What does UCTA 1977 say about liability waivers?
s.2(1) UCTA 1977 — a person cannot exclude or restrict their liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence; applies to business liability; cannot be contracted out of
Does this apply to zero-hours contracts or casual workers?
Yes — UCTA 1977 applies to any business liability; employment status does not affect the prohibition on excluding negligence liability
What about activities with inherent risk?
Some roles carry inherent physical risk; employee awareness of general risk is different from an employer excluding specific negligent acts; employer still must manage risks reasonably
What if the waiver is in a self-employment contract?
Same UCTA principle applies; employer cannot exclude negligence liability for personal injury regardless of how the contract is labelled
Related questions
My employer made me sign a form saying I could not claim if injured —
No. Under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, any clause excluding liability for personal injury caused by negligence is void and unenforceable.
Does signing a risk acknowledgement form affect my claim?
Not for employer negligence claims. Acknowledging a risk exists is different from consenting to being injured through negligence.
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Sources
- Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 s.2
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.65 (consumer contracts)
- HSWA 1974 s.9 (no charge to employees for safety measures)
This answer is editorial information about UK law. It is not legal advice and does not create a solicitor–client relationship. For advice on your circumstances, speak to a regulated personal-injury solicitor.