SafeWork NSW v Douglas Box Pty Limited [2020] NSWDC 682

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Douglas Box Pty Limited [2020] NSWDC 682 Hearing dates: 16 October 2020 Date of orders: 6 November 2020 Decision date: 06 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine is $100,000.00 and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect a plea of guilty. (3) I accordingly order the defendant to pay a fine of $75,000.00. (4) Pursuant to s 122 (2) of the Fines Act 1996, 50% of the fine imposed is to be paid to the prosecutor. (5) The defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs as agreed in the sum of $40,000.00. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking a business – risk of death or serious injury SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – discount of 25% because of the utility of the plea – general deterrence – specific deterrence – appropriate penalty – remorse – contrition COSTS – prosecution costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) Cases Cited: Bulga Underground Operations v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37; (2016) NSWLR 338 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW [200] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92 Kirk v Industrial Commission of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Limited & Anor (No.3) [2005] NSWIRComm 61 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited; Attorney General for NSW v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited [2017] NSWCCA 96 Orbit Drilling v The Queen; Smith v The Queen [2012] VSCA 82 R v Cage [2006] NSWCCA 304 R v Miria [2009] NSWCCA 68 R v Wilkinson (No 5) [2009] NSWSC 423 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Limited [2019] NSWDC 632 Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 Texts Cited: The Australian Standard on Rack Shelving AS4084-2012 The SafeWork NSW Pallet Racking Fact Sheet Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) JBS Australia (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms L Doust (Prosecutor) Mr P Barry with Mr H Pararajasingham (Defendant)