WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Insp West) v JR & EG Richards Pty Ltd t/as JR Richards & Sons [2002] NSWIRComm 285

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Insp West) v JR & EG Richards Pty Ltd t/as JR Richards & Sons [2002] NSWIRComm 285 PROSECUTOR: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Colin West) PARTIES : DEFENDANT: JR & EG Richards Pty Ltd t/as JR Richards & Sons FILE NUMBER: IRC319 of 2001 & IRC321 of 2001 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - Plea of guilty - Objective seriousness of offence - Detriments to safety - Failure to provide safe system - Failure to provide adequate training, instruction and supervision - Actions taken after the accident - Mitigating factors - Settled safety system which is inadequate - Training and supervision inadequate - Simple straightforward measures would have avoided - Gravity of consequences - Subjective features - Early plea - Major reconstruction of safety systems and other remedial measures - Contrition - Penalty - Costs reserved Fines Act 1996 s6 LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s15 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (Inspector McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 8 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Fletcher Constructions Australia Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Fisher) (1999) 91 IR 66 Lawrenson Diecasting v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 R v Carter [2001] NSWCCA 245 R v Thomson, R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Winchester, R v Ellis (1986) 6 NSWLR 603 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Limited (2000) 103 IR 143 Tyler v Sydney electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 CASES CITED : Warman International Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Insp. Riley) v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1998) 83 IR 427 WorkCover authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonalds Australia Limited and anor (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Barbosa) v Newstart 150 Pty Ltd t/as Stylewise Interiors (2002) 113 IR 78 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Gregory Thomas Dawson) v Waugh & Thora Saw Milling Pty Ltd (1995) 59 IR 89 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Limited & Anor (No.2) (2000) 99 IR 163 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Penfold) v Fernz Construction Materials Limited (2000) 100 IR 23 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Sheppard) v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 179 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Limited (1999) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Barnard) v Rail Infrastructure Corporation (2001) 109 IR 209 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Carmody) v Consolidated Constructions Pty Ltd (2001) 109 IR 316 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Robins) v Ecolab Pty Limited (1999) 90 IR 413 HEARING DATES: 03/26/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/08/2002