Inspector Ian Lancaster v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 261

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Ian Lancaster v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 261 PROSECUTOR: Inspector Ian Lancaster PARTIES : DEFENDANT: BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: IRC 4083 of of 2000 CORAM: Haylen J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - s 15(1) - clearing of a coal pit clogged by wet coal - extraordinary weather conditions - rain causes fluidisation of coal - unexpected rush of fluidised coal leads to injury of employee - cleaning clogged machinery by standing under hopper on uneven wet coal - absence of proper supervision - absence of safe system of work - plea of guilty - defendant accepts seriousness of offence - risk clearly foreseeable - simple measures to eliminate risk - defendant having numerous previous convictions - relevance of size of undertaking, number of employees and inherently dangerous process - relevance of defendant's continual assessment and review of its systems of work - defendant engages independent consultants on safe systems of work - early plea and discount allowed - factors relevant to penalty LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety Act (Confined Spaces) Regulation 1990 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Department of Mineral Resources (Chief Inspector McKensey) v Berrima Coal Pty Ltd and anor (2001) 105 IR 346 at 384 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 at 476 CASES CITED : Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 at 5 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Glass) v Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd (No2) (2000) 101 IR 261 at par 46 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd (2000) 99 IR 196 at 215 par 27 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Taco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR at 85 HEARING DATES: 08/30/2001 EXTEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 10/26/2001