What is an invitee's legal duty owed by an occupier?

In premises liability law, an occupier has a specific duty of care towards invitees, who are individuals invited onto the property for a business purpose or benefit to the occupier. The correct understanding of this duty entails that the occupier is responsible for ensuring the safety of the premises and protecting invitees from both known hazards and those dangers that can be reasonably discovered through inspections.

The legal obligation encompasses identifying any dangers that might not be immediately obvious to guests. This means an occupier must take steps to mitigate risks that could result in harm, ensuring that both known and discoverable dangers are adequately addressed. For instance, if a floor is slippery due to a recent spill, the occupier must not only address that known hazard but also routinely inspect for other potential dangers that might not have been reported yet.

This standard of care recognizes the reasonable expectations of invitees who rely on the occupier to maintain a safe environment. The obligation is more comprehensive than merely protecting against known dangers or providing minimal safety measures, thus ensuring that invitees feel secure while on the property.