PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
HARD HATS - THE OCCUPIERS LIABILITY ACT
Any yard owner (commercial or private) that allows clients, visitors or staff to ride, lunge, load or excercise horses on their premises or also off their premises while in their employment without wearing a hard hat is asking for trouble. They should have a written policy/contract which obliges anyone carring out these activities to wear an appproved standard hard hat and be seen to be enforcing it as otherwise they could be open to a massive financial claim if an accident occured.
Under the occupiers liability act 1957 this imposes a common duty of care on an occupier of premises to ensure that visitors will be reasonably safe in using pemises for the purposes for which he or she is invited.
"Accordingly the law obliges you not only to avoid creating a danger to yourself, but to take reasonable steps to protect your visitors from dangers you did not create"
Carry out a documented risk assessment and carefully plan what you need to do to make your premises as safe as possible.
A riding school/livery yard owner will NOT be absolved of their duty even if a client/visitor/member of staff chooses not to wear an approved hat.
It is therefore essential that riding schools and livery yards inlude a clause in their contract with clients/visitors and staff that obliges them to wear an approved riding hat while on their premises or if in their employment off their premises while riding, lunging, excercising and loading horses related to their employment.
Any yard owner (commercial or private) that allows clients, visitors or staff to ride, lunge, load or excercise horses on their premises or also off their premises while in their employment without wearing a hard hat is asking for trouble. They should have a written policy/contract which obliges anyone carring out these activities to wear an appproved standard hard hat and be seen to be enforcing it as otherwise they could be open to a massive financial claim if an accident occured.
Under the occupiers liability act 1957 this imposes a common duty of care on an occupier of premises to ensure that visitors will be reasonably safe in using pemises for the purposes for which he or she is invited.
"Accordingly the law obliges you not only to avoid creating a danger to yourself, but to take reasonable steps to protect your visitors from dangers you did not create"
Carry out a documented risk assessment and carefully plan what you need to do to make your premises as safe as possible.
A riding school/livery yard owner will NOT be absolved of their duty even if a client/visitor/member of staff chooses not to wear an approved hat.
It is therefore essential that riding schools and livery yards inlude a clause in their contract with clients/visitors and staff that obliges them to wear an approved riding hat while on their premises or if in their employment off their premises while riding, lunging, excercising and loading horses related to their employment.
