Inspector Forster v A B John Pty Ltd t/as Peel Valley Machinery Service & D P John Pty Ltd t/as Peel Valley Machinery Service [2003] NSWIRComm 116

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Forster v A B John Pty Ltd t/as Peel Valley Machinery Service & D P John Pty Ltd t/as Peel Valley Machinery Service [2003] NSWIRComm 116 PROSECUTOR Inspector John Forster PARTIES : DEFENDANT A B John Pty Ltd t/as Peel Valley Machinery Service D P John Pty Ltd t/as Peel Valley Machinery Service FILE NUMBER: IRC 2107 & 2108 of 2002 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational health and safety - Section 15 (1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act - Employee suffered fatal injuries when forklift in use rolled down incline pinning employee's legs and torso - Employee not certified to operate forklift and unsupervised - Safe system of work - Foreseeability - Subjective factors - Early plea of guilty - Offence proven - Conviction - Penalty imposed LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Supreme Court (Summary Jurisdiction) Act 1967 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, 99 IR 29 Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd v Callaghan (1985) 11 IR 467 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Drake Personnel Ltd t/a Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Italo-Australia Constructions Pty Ltd v Parkes (1988) 24 IR 428 Fletcher Constructions Australia Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Fisher) (1999) 91 IR 66 CASES CITED : Haynes v CI & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd and anor (1995) 60 IR 455 Inspector Brian Dell v Baradine Sawmilling Co. Pty Ltd. Inspector Brian Dell v Gunnedah Timbers Pty Ltd. [2002] NSWIRComm 304 Kennedy-Taylor (NSW) Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Charles) (2000) 102 IR 57 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1999) 90 IR 464 Moore v E W Cox Pty Ltd (1990) 37 IR 145 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Wong v Melinda Group Pty Limited (1998) 82 IR 118 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Robinson) v Bosnjak Holdings Pty Limited and anor [2002] NSWIRComm 295 HEARING DATES: 02/21/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/17/2003