SafeWork NSW v Chris Darby Strata Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 360

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Chris Darby Strata Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 360 Hearing dates: 7 August 2024 Date of orders: 22 August 2024 Decision date: 22 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Chris Darby Strata Pty Ltd was convicted on 7 August 2024. (2) The appropriate fine is $200,000 but that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the early plea of guilty. (3) Order Chris Darby Strata Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $150,000. (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 Chris Darby Strata 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 – industrial strata complex – gate damaged by vehicle collision – strata managing agent notified – no urgent work order issued – worker subsequently fatally crushed by damaged gate – failure to arrange urgent repairs – failure to communicate with owners that gate should not be operated Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22, 26, 27, 28, 30A, 30B, 30D, 30E Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), s 106 Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), ss 3, 20, 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 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 Maluko Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 274 SafeWork NSW v The Owners – Strata Plan No 93899 [2024] NSWDC 277 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: SafeWork NSW Code of Practice, Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace, August 2019 SafeWork NSW Code of Practice, Managing the Work Environment and Facilities, August 2019 WorkSafe Western Australia Safety Alert, Worker Crushed by Falling Gate, August 2018 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Chris Darby Strata Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Moir (Prosecutor) B Hodgkinson SC/M Wallis (Defendant)