SafeWork NSW v Coplex Construction Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 165

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Coplex Construction Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 165 Hearing dates: 16 May 2023 Date of orders: 23 May 2023 Decision date: 23 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Coplex Construction Pty Ltd is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine is $540,000 but that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the plea of guilty. (3) Order Coplex Construction Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $405,000. (4) Order pursuant to Section 122(2) of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW) that 50% of the fine is to be paid to the prosecutor. (5) Order Coplex Construction Pty Ltd to pay the prosecutor's costs. 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 appropriate penalty COSTS – prosecution costs OTHER – fall from height – principal contractor on construction site – worker fell through open penetration – fatal injuries – failure to require subcontractor to securely cover penetration – failure to require subcontractor to install guard rails around penetration – failure to prevent workers from undertaking work until adequate protection installed – failure to develop, implement and enforce adequate Safe Work Method Statement – failure to verify subcontractor had developed, implemented and enforced adequate Safe Work Method Statement – failure to provide adequate supervision Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22 Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 19, 32, 244 Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW), cll 29, 78, 79, 291 Cases Cited: Baumer v R [1988] HCA 67; (1988) 166 CLR 51 Bulga Underground Operations Pty Limited v Nash [2016] NSWCCA 37; (2016) 93 NSWLR 338 BW v R [2011] NSWCCA 176 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 DPP v Gregory [2011] VSCA 145; (2011) 34 VR 1 Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; (2011) 244 CLR 462 Jimmy v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 60; (2010) 77 NSWLR 540 Mahdi Jahandideh v The Queen [2014] NSWCCA 178 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited; Attorney General for NSW v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Limited [2017] NSWCCA 96 R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242; (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 R v Wilkinson (No. 5) [2009] NSWSC 432 SafeWork NSW v Ru Dong Li [2018] NSWDC 189 Unity Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2018] NSWCCA 266 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Howard) v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Limited [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Carmody) v Consolidated Constructions Pty Limited [2001] NSWIR Comm 263; (2001) 109 IR 316 Texts Cited: Safe Work Australia, Safe Work on Roofs Information Sheet, January 2016 SafeWork NSW Code of Practice, Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces, April 2016 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Coplex Construction Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Moir (Prosecutor) S McIntosh (Defendant)