OpenLegislation

Section 47 Civil liability.C6C1C2C3C4

United Kingdom

(1)

Nothing in this Part shall be construed—

(a)

as conferring a right of action in any civil proceedings in respect of any failure to comply with any duty imposed by sections 2 to 7 or any contravention of section 8; or

F1(b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(c)

as affecting the operation of section 12 of the M1Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (right to compensation by virtue of certain provisions of that Act).

C5(F22)

Breach of a duty imposed by a statutory instrument containing (whether alone or with other provision) health and safety regulations shall not be actionable except to the extent that regulations under this section so provide.

(2A)

Breach of a duty imposed by an existing statutory provision shall not be actionable except to the extent that regulations under this section so provide (including by modifying any of the existing statutory provisions).

(2B)

Regulations under this section may include provision for—

(a)

a defence to be available in any action for breach of the duty mentioned in subsection (2) or (2A);

(b)

any term of an agreement which purports to exclude or restrict any liability for such a breach to be void.

(3)

No provision made by virtue of section 15(6)(b) shall afford a defence in any civil proceedings F3...

(4)

Subsections (1)(a) F4, (2) and (2A) above are without prejudice to any right of action which exists apart from the provisions of this Act, and subsection F5(2B)(a) above is without prejudice to any defence which may be available apart from the provisions of the regulations there mentioned.

F6(5)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F7(7)

The power to make regulations under this section shall be exercisable by the Secretary of State.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

S. 47(1)(b) omitted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(2), 103(1)(i), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

F2

S. 47(2)-(2B) substituted for s. 47(2) (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes ) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(3), 103(1)(i), (3), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

F3

Words in s. 47(3) omitted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(4), 103(1)(i), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

F4

Words in s. 47(4) substituted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(5)(a), 103(1)(i), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

F5

Word in s. 47(4) substituted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(5)(b), 103(1)(i), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

F6

S. 47(5)(6) omitted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(6), 103(1)(i), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

F7

s. 47(7) inserted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes, 1.10.2013 for remaining purposes) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 69(7), 103(1)(i), (3), (3) (with s. 69(8)-(10)); S.I. 2013/2227, art. 2(f)

Marginal citations

M1

1965 c. 57.

Modifications

C1

Ss. 1–25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34–59, 80, 81 and 82 applied by S.I. 1989/840, arts. 2–10

Ss. 16-24, 26, 28, 33-40, 42, 46, 47 excluded (with saving) (E.W.S.) (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1997/1840, regs. 7, 9

Ss. 16-26, 33-42, 47 applied (15.11.2000) by S.I. 2000/2831, reg. 26(1)(a)

C2

Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (11.7.2001) by S.I. 2001/2127, arts. 4(1), 5(1)(2), 6(1), 7(1), 8(1), 10 (with art. 11) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1750, art. 2(2)(4))

C3

Ss. 1-59, 80-82 applied (temp.) (5.8.2009) by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/2127), arts. 8A, 8B (as inserted by S.I. 2009/1750, art. 2(3))

C4

Ss. 1-59 applied by S.I. 2001/2127 art. 8A 8B (as inserted (E.W.S.) (6.4.2011) by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) (Variation) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/745), arts. 1(1), 3(2))

C5

S. 47(2) applied (E.W.S.) (24.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1689, reg. 14(1)(c)

C6

Pt. 1 modified (1.1.2018) by The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1075), regs. 1(2), 2(3) (with regs. 2(5), 3, Sch. 8)

Notes on Part I

Modifications

C1

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) extended by S.I. 1981/1011, reg. 9; and by S.I. 1983/1919, reg. 3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) modified (E.W.S.) (1.2.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 5(5)(b) (with ss. 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 2

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) modified (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 33(5)(c) (with s. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) amended (E.W.S.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 120(1), Sch. 22 para. 30(2) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) amended (E.W.S.) (1.3.1996) by 1995 c. 45, s. 16(1), Sch. 4 para. 10(1)(a)(3); S.I. 1996/218, art. 2

C2

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) extended by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), ss. 18, 48(3)(4)

C3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) applied by Gas Act 1986 (c. 44, SIF 44:2), s. 67(3), Sch. 8 para. 6(2)

C4

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) amended by Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43, SIF 109:1), s. 36

C5

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) amended by S.I. 1988/1222, regs. 3, 4

C6

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) extended by S.I. 1989/1671, reg. 4

C7

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) amended by S.I. 1989/1810, reg. 3 (which S.I. was revoked (1.2.1993) by S.I. 1992/3217, reg. 25).

C8

Pt. 1 (ss. 1–54) amended by S.I. 1990/1380, reg. 3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) saved by Highland Regional Council (Harbours) Order Confirmation Act (c. xii), s. 1, Sch. s. 61(1)(f)

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) definition applied (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 206(3)(g), 223(2)

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) saved by London Underground (Safety Measures) Act 1991 (c. xviii), s. 11(2)

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) saved by City of Edinburgh District Council Order Confirmation Act 1991 (c. xix), s. 1, Sch. 1 Pt. XII para. 67(2)

C9

Pt. 1 extended by S.I. 1978/752, reg. 3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54): transfer of functions (E.W.) (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 25, s. 2(1)(g)(2)(c) (with ss. 115, 117); S.I. 1996/186, art. 3

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54): transfer of functions (S.) (12.10.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 21(1)(g) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/2649, art. 2

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54): transfer of functions (E.W.S.) (12.10.1995) by 1995 c. 25, s. 21(2)(a) (with ss. 7(6), 115, 117); S.I. 1995/2649, art. 2

C10

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) extended (E.W.S.) (6.3.1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), S. 1(1)

C11

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) amended (E.W.S.) (6.3.1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 1(1)

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) amended (E.W.S.) (2.2.1994) by 1993 c. 43, s. 117(1)(6), 150(1)(e); S.I. 1994/202, art. 2

C12

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) extended (E.W.S.) (1.2.1993) by S.I. 1992/3217, reg. 4

C13

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) modified (E.W.S.) (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/2051, reg. 16(2)

C14

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) extended (E.W.S.) (6.3.1992) by Offshore Safety Act 1992 (c. 15), s. 2(1)

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) extended (E.W.S.) (2.2.1994) by 1993 c. 43, ss. 117(2)(6), 150(1)(e); S.I. 1994/202, art. 2

C15

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) applied (with modifications) (14.4.1999) by S.I. 1999/860, reg. 2

C16

Pt. 1 (ss. 1-54) applied (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1517, reg. 12(3), Sch. 4 para. 12(3)(c)

Pt. 1: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.) (16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1 Table C

C17

Pt. 1 restricted (S.) (1.10.2006) by 2005 asp 5, ss. 70, 90; S.I. 2006/458, art. 2 (subject to art. 3)

C18

Pt. 1 modified (prosp.) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 99(1), 110

C19

Pt. 1: power to repeal or modify conferred (prosp.) by Energy Act 2008 (c. 32), ss. 99(1)(2), 110

C21

Pt. 1 applied (E.W.S.) (6.2.2018) by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1322), regs. 1, 18

Extent

E1

For the application of Pt. I to Northern Ireland see s. 84(1).