A factory worker is employed on a production line assembling electronic components. The employer provides basic safety goggles but does not supply ear protection despite the factory floor being very noisy. After six months of working without ear protection, the worker suffers permanent hearing damage. The employer argues that hearing protection was available for workers to request and that the worker should have asked for it. The worker brings a claim in negligence against the employer, arguing that the employer breached its duty of care by failing to provide adequate protective equipment.
Which of the following best describes the standard of care owed by an employer to an employee under the principle established in Wilsons and Clyde Coal Co v English [1938]?