SafeWork NSW v LJW Solar Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 526

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v LJW Solar Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 526 Hearing dates: 13 October 2022 Date of orders: 2 November 2022 Decision date: 02 November 2022 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Strathdee DCJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine for the offence is $800,000.00, and that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the plea of guilty. (3) Accordingly, I order the defendant to pay a fine of $600,000.00. (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) Pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs, agreed in the sum of $39,500.00. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – prosecution – work health and safety – duty of persons undertaking business – risk of death or serious injury – vulnerable worker SENTENCE – objective seriousness – mitigating factors – aggravating factors – plea of guilty – discount of 25% for the utility of the plea – general deterrence – specific deterrence – remorse and contrition – capacity to pay COSTS – prosecutor's costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney General v Jamestrong Packaging Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCCA 319 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Ltd v Nash (2016) 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 Inspector Beacham v J & L Marble Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 100 Jahandideh v R [2014] NSWCCA 178 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 McColl v John Watson Building Services Pty Ltd (2004) 137 IR 310 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 Williams Timber Pty Ltd; SafeWork NSW v Easy Fall Guttering Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCCA 233 Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (NSW) Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 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 AS/NZS1891.1:2007 (Industrial Fall Arrest Systems and Devices) SafeWork Australia's SafeWork on Roofs Information Sheet, January 2016 SafeWork NSW Code of Practice – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces (August 2019) WorkCover NSW Safe Work on Roofs Code of Practice, Part 1, Commercial and Industrial Buildings 2009 Category: Principal judgment Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) LJW Solar Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr N Read (for the Prosecutor) Mr M Shume (for the Defendant)