SafeWork NSW v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited (No. 3) [2021] NSWDC 105

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited (No. 3) [2021] NSWDC 105 Hearing dates: 26 March 2021 Date of orders: 8 April 2021 Decision date: 08 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited was convicted on 26 March 2021. (2) The Victim Impact Statements of Ms Kay Macpherson and Mr Iain Macpherson are taken into account. (3) Order McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited to pay a fine of $500,000. (4) Order pursuant to Section 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW) that 50% of the fine is to be paid to the prosecutor. (5) Order McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited to pay the prosecutor's costs. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – general deterrence – specific deterrence – substantial harm, injury, loss or damage – parity principle – victim impact statement – appropriate penalty COSTS – prosecution costs OTHER – Unrestrained steel headstocks fell on rigger working on a barge — no adequate risk assessment for landing headstocks on barge and working upon them — deck space not cleared to lay headstocks down — no visual inspection of barge despite contractual obligation Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 26, 27, 28, 30A, 30B, 30D, 30E Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 19, 32 Cases Cited: Baumer v R [1988] HCA 67; (1988) 166 CLR 51 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Limited v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37; (2016) 93 NSWLR 338 BW v R [2011] NSWCCA 176 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 DPP v Gregory [2011] VSCA 145; (2011) 34 VR 1 Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; (2011) 244 CLR 462 Jimmy v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 60; (2010) 77 NSWLR 540 Mahdi Jahandideh v The Queen [2014] NSWCCA 178 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited; Attorney General for NSW v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited [2017] NSWCCA 96 R v Brady Marine & Civil Pty Ltd [2020] NSWDC 775 R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242; (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 R v Wilkinson (No. 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 SafeWork NSW v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited (No. 2) [2020] NSWDC 668 Unity Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2018] NSWCCA 266 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Howard) v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Limited [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Carmody) v Consolidated Constructions Pty Limited [2001] NSWIR Comm 263; (2001) 109 IR 316 Texts Cited: AS/NZS 4801:2001, Occupational health and safety management systems — Specification with guidance for use, November 2001 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Agius SC with M Cahill (Prosecutor) B Hodgkinson SC (Defendant)