SafeWork NSW v Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 605

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd [2021] NSWDC 605 Hearing dates: 20, 21 and 22 September 2021; 5 and 27 October 2021 Date of orders: 10 November 2021 Decision date: 10 November 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Scotting DCJ Decision: 1 The prosecution has proved all of the elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt. 2 I find the defendant guilty. Catchwords: CRIME – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – duty of employers – risk of death or serious injury – death of worker Legislation Cited: Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 Cases Cited: Adelaide Corporation v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd (1928) 40 CLR 481 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australian Performing Right Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99 Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd v R (2012) 246 CLR 92 Broad v Parish (1941) 64 CLR 588 Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd v Callaghan (1985) 11 IR 467 Certain Lloyds Underwriters v Cross and Thelander (2012) 87 ALJR 131 Collins v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 209 Director of Public Prosecutions v JCS Fabrications Pty Ltd and JMAL Group Pty Ltd [2019] VSCA 50 Director of Public Prosecutions v Vibro-Pile (Aust) Pty Ltd (2016) 49 VR 676 Dunlop Rubber Australia Ltd v Buckley (1952) 87 CLR 313 Genner Constructions Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2001] NSWIRComm 267 Hunt v Barlow [2000] NSWSC 324 Inspector Ching v Bros Bins Systems Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 197 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531 Laing O'Rourke (BMC) Pty Ltd v Kirwin [2011] WASCA 117 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104 Plunkett v Bull (1915) 19 CLR 544 Provincial Insurance Australia Pty Ltd v Consolidated Wood Products Pty Ltd (1991) 25 NSWLR 541 R v Board of Trustees of the Science Museum [1993] 1 WLR 1171 R v Commercial Industrial Construction Group Pty Ltd (2006) 14 VR 321 R v Jasper [2003] NSWCCA 186 R v Johnson [1945] KB 419 R v Madercine (1899) 15 WN (NSW) 235 R v Nelson Group Services (Maintenance) Ltd [1998] 4 All ER 332 Sidle v Queensland Trustees Ltd (1915) 20 CLR 557 Slivak v Lurgi (Aust) Pty Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 304 Smith v Broken Hill Pty Ltd (1957) 97 CLR 337 Tangerine Confectionery Ltd and Veolia ES (UK) Ltd v R [2011] EWCA Crim 2015 Thiess Pty Ltd v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 78 NSWLR 94WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd [1999] NSWIRComm 453 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd (2004) 135 IR 166 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 Category: Principal judgment Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Saunders Civilbuild Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Cahill (Prosecutor) P Barry (Defendant)