Inspector Page v Stevens Construction Pty Limited and Alroy Constructions Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 226

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Page v Stevens Construction Pty Limited and Alroy Constructions Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 226 PROSECUTOR Inspector Victor Page PARTIES : DEFENDANTS Stevens Construction Pty Limited Alroy Constructions Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: IRC 3937 & 3939 of 2002 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - Section 16(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - Two defendants - Pleas of guilty - First defendant was principal contractor - Second defendant was subcontractor - Second defendant subcontracted out the erection of formwork - Formwork subcontractor seriously injured in fall from building - First defendant safety system inadequate - Second defendant had no safety system - Second defendant more culpable - Second defendant was small family company - Consideration of the means of the second defendant - Offences proven against both defendants - Penalties imposed LEGISLATION CITED : Fines Act 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Benbow v Converquip Pty Ltd (2001) 106 IR 258 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, 99 IR 29 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Ford v Warrah Ridge Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (unreported, Bauer J, 23 September 1994, Matter No CT1109 of 1993) Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Inspector Gordon v MIJO (NSW) Pty Limited (unreported, Cullen J, CT1002 of 1993, 2 December 1993) Inspector Hannah v Wonar Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher CJ, Glynn and Cullen JJ, Matter No 1214 of 1990, 30 June 1992) Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 CASES CITED : Manpac Industries Pty Ltd (formerly t/as Pacific Concrete & Quarries Pty Ltd) v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) (2001) 106 IR 435 Mauger v Krcmar Engineering Pty Ltd [1993] 47 IR 359 Nesmat Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1998) 87 IR 312 P F Thearle & Co Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) [2002] NSWIRComm 102 Robins v C T Plumbing Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher P, 16 December 1991, Matter No 522 of 1991) Shannon v Comalco Aluminium Ltd (1986) 19 IR 358 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Wong v Melinda Group Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 118 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Byrne Civil Engineering Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 264 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Limited (1999) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163 HEARING DATES: 06/26/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/30/2003