In terms of occupiers' liability, who is typically afforded a lower standard of care?

In the context of occupiers' liability, trespassers are typically afforded a lower standard of care compared to other categories such as employees, licensees, and invitees. This is based on the principle that occupiers owe a duty of care to those who enter their premises, but the extent of that duty varies depending on the visitor's status.

For trespassers, the law recognizes that they have entered the property without permission. Consequently, the occupier is expected to take reasonable steps to avoid causing them harm, but they do not have the same level of responsibility as they do for licensees or invitees, who have been invited or have permission to be on the property. For instance, an occupier must not deliberately cause harm and should take steps to mitigate dangers once aware of a trespasser's presence, but overall, the duty is significantly less stringent.

In contrast, employees of the occupier, invitees, and licensees are accorded a higher standard of care, which requires the occupier to ensure the premises are reasonably safe for these visitors, as they enter the property with implied or explicit permission. Hence, the correct classification of the standard of care aligns with the understanding of the nature of the visitor's entry, with