Inspector William Hopkins v Michael Wherritt t/as M J Wherritt Concrete Pumping Services. Prosecution under s 15(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 [2002] NSWIRComm 16

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector William Hopkins v Michael Wherritt t/as M J Wherritt Concrete Pumping Services. Prosecution under s 15(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 [2002] NSWIRComm 16 PARTIES : Inspector William Hopkins v Michael Wherritt t/as MJ Wherritt Concrete Pumping Services. Prosecution under s 15(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 FILE NUMBER: IRC 673 of 2001 CORAM: Haylen J Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - s 15(1) - plea of guilty - fatal injury - small business enterprise operated by individual - seriousness of offence - financial position of defendant considered - previous good record and reputation established - discount for early plea - substantial discount of fine because of numerous objective factors - penalty imposed

CATCHWORDS : Practice and Procedure - Agreed Statement of Facts tendered - unsworn statements and records of interview tendered by consent - defendant's submission calls into question some matters contained within the Agreement Statement of Facts - status of Agreed Statement of Facts - procedure for rasing facts in contest

Evidence - s 184 and s 191 Evidence Act - status of agreed facts LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) Evidence Act 1995 s 184 s 1991 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Haynes v CI & D Manufactruing Pty Ltd & anor (1995) 60 IR 45 R v Olbrich (1998) 45 NSWLR 538 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 at 580 CASES CITED : R v Smith [1981] 1 NSWLR 193 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v Lyndhurst Training Co Pty Ltd WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Benbow) v Converquip Pty Ltd [2001] 106 IR 258 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Dall) v R R & D Enterprises (Newcastle) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 329 HEARING DATES: 12/03/2001 EXTEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 02/15/2002