SafeWork NSW v Sandhu Construction Group Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 193

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Sandhu Construction Group Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 193 Hearing dates: 29 April 2021 Date of orders: 21 May 2021 Decision date: 21 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine for the defendant is $700,000.00 and that will be reduced by 5% to reflect a plea of guilty. (3) Accordingly, I order the defendant to pay a fine of $665,000.00. (4) Pursuant to s 122 (2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), 50% of the fine imposed is to be paid to the prosecutor. (5) The defendant to pay the prosecutor's costs as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: CRIME – work health and safety – risk of death or serious injury – duty of persons undertaking a business or undertaking PROCEDURAL – reasonably practicable – likelihood of risk – knowledge of risk – what the defendant ought reasonably have known SENTENCE – 5% reduction for the utility of the plea. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 Cases Cited: Attorney General (NSW) v Ceerose Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCCA 35 Attorney General (NSW) v Tho Services Ltd (in liquidation) (2016) 264 IR 171 Bulga Underground Operations v Nash (2016) NSWLR 338 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Green v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 462 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morris McMahon & Co Pty Ltd v SafeWork NSW [2019] NSWCCA 36 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No. 3) (2005) 147 IR 117 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd (2017) 93 NSWLR 338 Orbit Drilling v The Queen (2012) 35 VR 399 R v Miria [2009] NSWCCA 68 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 632 SafeWork NSW v ProjectCorp Australia Pty Ltd (2017) 25 DCLR (NSW) 219 SafeWork v P&K Bezzina [2020] NSWDC 91 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 Texts Cited: The Australian Standard AS 3700-2011: Masonry Structures (October 2011) WorkCover NSW: Masonry Wall Safety During Construction Work Guide (2009) WorkCover NSW: Masonry Wall Safety During Construction Work Guide (2015) Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Sandhu Construction Group Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms C Lee (Prosecutor) Mr A Stewart, Solicitor (Defendant)