SafeWork NSW v BlueScope Steel (AIS) Pty Limited [2022] NSWDC 195

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v BlueScope Steel (AIS) Pty Limited [2022] NSWDC 195 Hearing dates: 29 March 2022 Date of orders: 7 June 2022 Decision date: 07 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee, DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine is $400,000.00 and that will be reduced by 25% for the utilitarian value of the plea. (3) I order BlueScope pay a fine in the sum of $300,000.00. (4) 50% of the fine imposed is to be paid to the prosecutor, pursuant to s133(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW). (5) The defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs as agreed or assessed pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW). 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 – previous convictions - appropriate sentence – Fines Act 1996 (NSW) OTHER – s 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bulga Underground Operations v Nash (2016) 93 NSWLR 338 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Environmental Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) [1999] NSWIRComm 343 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 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCCA 96 Orbit Drilling v The Queen (2012) 35 VR 399 R v Cage [2006] NSWCCA 304 R v MA [2004] NSWCCA 92 R v Miria [2009] NSWCCA 68 R v MMK [2006] NSWCCA 272 R v Thomson & Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Youkhana [2004] NSWCCA 412 SafeWork NSW v Grandcity Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWDC 398 SafeWork NSW v HCM Building Pty Ltd [2019] NSWDC 632 SafeWork NSW v Poletti Coproation [2019] NSWDC SafeWork NSW v Poletti Corporation [2019] NSWDC 491 Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 Warman International Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW (1998) 80 IR 236 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: Divisional Handbook entitled 'Fall Prevention', issued in April 2014 SafeWork NSW Code of Practice: Confined Spaces, dated January 2012 SafeWork NSW Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces, dated April 2016 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork New South Wales (Prosecutor) Bluescope Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd ( (ACN 000 019 625) (Defendant) Representation: Mr B Docking (for the Prosecutor) Ms K Nomchong SC and Mr M Shume (for the Defendant)