SafeWork NSW v Bermagui Constructions Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 604

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: SafeWork NSW v Bermagui Constructions Pty Ltd [2024] NSWDC 604 Hearing dates: 17 December 2024 Date of orders: 20 December 2024 Decision date: 20 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Russell SC DCJ Decision: (1) Bermagui Constructions Pty Ltd is convicted. (2) The appropriate fine is $300,000 but that will be reduced by 25% to reflect the early plea of guilty. (3) Order Bermagui Constructions Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $225,000. (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 Bermagui Constructions 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 – roofing work – worker fell through roof soffit – no fall prevention system – worker had no qualification or experience working at height – failure to direct workers not to work on roof until safety measures implemented 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, 33 Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW), cll 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 HLH NSW Pty Ltd [2023] NSWDC 501 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 Risk of Falls, August 2019 SafeWork NSW Factsheet, Falls – Safety Guide, January 2016 Safe Work Australia Information Sheet, Safe Work on Roofs, January 2016 Category: Sentence Parties: SafeWork NSW (Prosecutor) Bermagui Constructions Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Mykkeltvedt (Prosecutor) R Coffey (Defendant)