SafeWork NSW v Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 245

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 245 Hearing dates: 20 June 2024 Date of orders: 27 June 2024 Decision date: 27 June 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd was convicted on 20 June 2024. (2) The appropriate fine is $400,000 but that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the early plea of guilty. (3) Order Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $300,000. (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 Saunders Civilbuild 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 – bridge construction – worker lost footing – fell five metres through void – inadequately secured infill panels Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22, 27, 28, 30A, 30B, 30D, 30E Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 19, 32 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 Mahdi Jahandideh v The Queen [2014] NSWCCA 178 Meis v The Queen [2022] NSWCCA 118 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 Coplex Construction Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 165 SafeWork NSW v LJW Solar Pty Ltd [2022] NSWDC 526 SafeWork NSW v Parrish Group NSW Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 13 SafeWork NSW v Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd (No 2) [2022] NSWDC 163 Unity Pty Limited v SafeWork NSW [2018] NSWCCA 266 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Saunders Civilbuild Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Scott (Prosecutor) B Hodgkinson SC and N Read (Defendant)