An entrepreneur who creates dangerous conditions at a worksite and retains control over a contractor's activities owes a duty of care to the contractor's employees in respect of a safe system of work, even where the work does not involve coordination of multiple contractors' activities. The duty recognised in Stevens v Brodribb is not confined to coordination cases. In assessing contributory negligence of an employee who follows a dangerous practice expected by the employer, the practices and pressures of employment must be taken into account in applying the objective standard, and this applies equally whether the defendant is the employer or a non-employer. A plaintiff claiming damages for a workplace injury need not prove the incident was 'a substantial and independent cause' of the long-term condition; it suffices that the incident was 'a cause', including through aggravation of a pre-existing condition or together with aggravation by a subsequent event.
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