Insp Carmody v George Agapiou [2001] NSWIRComm 268

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Insp Carmody v George Agapiou [2001] NSWIRComm 268 PROSECUTION: PARTIES : Inspector Martin Carmody DEFENDANT: George Agapiou FILE NUMBER: IRC4370 of 2000 CORAM: Kavanagh J CATCHWORDS : Prosecution under s17(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 of an individual as a person with control of premises made available for work to persons not the defendants employees - The defendant sought no professional guidance and demolished a back extension to a terrace house and left a wall free standing without bracing and unstable - Defendant as owner/builder contracted with builder to construct new extension - Wall collapses - Labourer suffers fatal injuries - Gravity of offence assessed in circumstances - Consideration of element of contrition in mitigation as to penalty - Early plea of guilty acknowledged in penalty LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s17(1)(a) Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector James Swee Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonalds Australia Limited & Anor 95 IR 382 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Callaghan) v Saunders Constructions Pty Ltd (unreported decision, Maidment J, CT93/1062, 26 November 1993) Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 188 Tyler v Sydney Electricity 47 IR 1 CASES CITED : Department of Mineral Resources of New South Wales (Chief Inspector B R McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Haynes v James Glass & Aluminium Pty Ltd (unreported, CT91/772-775, 20 May 1994) Page v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm39 R v Thompson, R v Houlton (1999-2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Carter [2001] NSW CCA 245 R v Neville [2000] NSWSC 841