WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Tyler) v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 40

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Tyler) v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 40 PROSECUTION PARTIES : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ian Frederick Tyler) DEFENDANT Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: IRC4981 of 1998 CORAM: Wright J President Occupational health and safety - Prosecution under s 15(1) of the OH&S Act - Plea of guilty - Construction industry - Fatal accident - Circumstances of alleged breach of safety - Sentencing in OH&S prosecutions - Principles applicable to sentencing under the OH&S Act - Gravity of offence - Approach to be adopted in relation to early plea of guilt - Significance of "paper systems" - Defendant convicted - Fine imposed. CATCHWORDS : Words and phrases - "paper systems". LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Davies v Supercoat Feeds Pty Limited (unreported, Fisher P, CT96/1020, 22 April 1997) Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v Ch'ng (1999) 90 IR 464 CASES CITED : Page v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No.2) [2000] NSWIRComm 39 R v Winchester (1992) 58 A Crim R 345 Sydney City Council v Coulson (1987) 21 IR 477 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Warman International Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 HEARING DATES: 12/10/1999 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/04/2000