WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) v PF Thearle & Co Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 105

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) v PF Thearle & Co Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 105 PROSECUTOR: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) PARTIES : DEFENDANT: PF Thearle & Co Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC1034 of 1999 and IRC 1036 of 1999 CORAM: Glynn J CATCHWORDS : Occupational health and safety - employee installing cables to energised kiosk transformer - not trained to work on transformer nor in accordance with Electricity (Workers' Safety) Regulation 1992 - access granted by NorthPower employee contrary to NorthPower procedures - NorthPower prosecuted - defendant's employee went beyond work advised to NorthPower employee to bolt earth lugs to the transformer earthbar - cables covered with earth coloured insulation in fact alive - defendant's employee injured - principles of parity and consistency - plea of guilty - mitigating factors - penalty imposed. Occupational Health & Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) Electricity (Workers' Safety) Regulation 1992 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 s 439 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 22 Fines Act 1996 s 6 Alcatel Australia Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (1996) 70 IR 99 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) [2000] NSWIRComm 71 (2000) 99 IR 29 Campbell v Neaves (1996) 84 IR 240 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 at 698-699 Haynes v CI & D Manufacturing Pty Limited (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Limited (1996) 82 IR 384 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector James Swee Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Nesmat Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (1998) 87 IR 312 Page v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm 39 CASES CITED : Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Signato v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 656 R v Thomson, R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309 Ridge Consolidated Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Mauger) (2000) 100 IR 156 Warman International Limited v The WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 Winchester (1992) 50 A Crim R 345 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Reynolds) v NorthPower [2001] NSWIRComm 104 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Robert Sheppard) v The State Rail Authority of NSW (unreported, Wright J, President, 99/3369, 6/10/00) WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Victor Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Limited (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm 39, (2000) 99 IR 163 HEARING DATES: 03/19/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/07/2001