SafeWork NSW v Onsite Rental Group Operations Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 338

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Onsite Rental Group Operations Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 338 Hearing dates: 24 June 2021 Date of orders: 23 July 2021 Decision date: 23 July 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine for the offence is $200,000 and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect a plea of guilty. (3) Accordingly, I order the defendant to pay a fine of $150,000. (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) Pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs agreed in the sum of $42,000. 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 – plea of guilty – general deterrence – specific deterrence – capacity to pay – totality of sentence - appropriate sentence - parity Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bulga Underground Operations v Nash (2016) 93 NSWLR 338 Butters v R [2010] NSWCCA 1 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Imbornone v R [2017] NSWCCA Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No. 3) (2005) 147 IR 117 Munro v R [2006] NSWCCA 350 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCCA 96 Orbit Drilling v The Queen (2012) 35 VR 399 Pfitzner v R [2010] NSWCCA 314 R v Cage [2006] NSWCCA 304 R v Elfar [2003] NSWCCA 358 R v Harrison [2001] NSWCCA 79 R v MA [2004] NSWCCA 92 R v McGourty [2002] NSWCCA 335 R v Miria [2009] NSWCCA 68 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272 R v Palu [2002] NSWCC 381 R v Qutami [2001] NSWCC 353 R v Wilkinson (No. 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 632 Van Zwam v R [2017] NSWCCA 127 Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Sarjame Storage Pty Ltd [2015] NSWDC 151 Texts Cited: Australian Standard 'Cranes, hoists and winches – Safe use Part 10: Mobile elevating work platforms' WorkCover 'Work Near Overhead Lines' Code of Practice dated 2006 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Onsite Rental Group Operations Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms N Evans (for the Prosecutor) Mr B Hodgkinson SC and Mr S McIntosh (for the Defendant)