Inspector Jones v Fernandes Constructions [2002] NSWIRComm 71

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Jones v Fernandes Constructions [2002] NSWIRComm 71 PROSECUTOR Inspector Steven Jones PARTIES : DEFENDANT Fernandes Constructions Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 2096 of 2000 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health & Safety - Prosecution under s 16(1) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act - Plea of guilty - Significant factual dispute arising out of charge - Unavailability of person to give evidence - Application of Evidence Act to sentencing proceedings - Evidence Act applied to specified matters - Persons exposed to risk of injury from falling off building under construction - Person may have been affected by alcohol - Whether penalty should be mitigated because of failure of others - Deterrence - Subjective factors - Penalty imposed - Costs Construction Safety Act 1912 (R) LEGISLATION CITED : Construction Safety Regulations 1950 (R) Evidence Act 1995 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 (R) Benbow v Converquip Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 85 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, (2000) 99 IR 29 Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (1994) 60 IR 149 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Limited (1996) 82 IR 384 Manpac Industries Pty Ltd (formerly t/as Pacific Concrete & Quarries Pty Ltd) v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) [2001] NSWIRComm 190 Nesmat Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 87 IR 312 R v Thomson, R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 CASES CITED : Rech v F M Hire Pty Limited (1998) 83 IR 293 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54, (1999) 73 ALJR 1550 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Byrne Civil Engineering Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 264 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Keelty) v Crown in Right of the State of New South Wales (Police Service of New South Wales) (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 90 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Farrell) v David Carl Schrader [2002] NSWIRComm 25 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Limited (1999) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163 HEARING DATES: 03/12/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/15/2002