WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Byrne Civil Engineering Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 264

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Byrne Civil Engineering Constructions Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 264 PROSECUTOR WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Martin Carmody) PARTIES : DEFENDANT Byrne Civil Engineering Constructions Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 2638 of 1999 CORAM: Hungerford J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - Plea of not guilty - Offence found proven - Assessment of appropriate penalty - Principles to follow in the sentencing process - Objective seriousness of offence in terms of its nature and quality - Subjective considerations particular to the defendant - Multiple contraventions charged as a single offence - Principle of totality - Responsibility of other persons involved in the same occurrence - Parity in sentencing - Contrition - Deterrence - No prior convictions - Defendant convicted - Fine imposed, with moiety to prosecutor - Defendant to pay prosecutor's costs. LEGISLATION CITED : Fines Act 1996 s 6 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 16(1) s 53 Benbow v Converquip Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 85 Crown in Right of the State of New South Wales (Department of Education and Training) v Keenan (2001) 105 IR 181 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (No 2) (1994) 60 IR 149 Kirkby v A & M I Hanson Pty Ltd (1994) 55 IR 40 CASES CITED : Manpac Industries Pty Ltd (formerly t/as Pacific Concrete & Quarries Pty Ltd) v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) [2001] NSWIRComm 190 Postiglione v R (1997) 189 CLR 295 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Carmody) v Byrne Civil Engineering Constructions Pty Ltd (No 1) (2001) 103 IR 80 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Carmody) v Consolidated Constructions Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 263 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Gordon) v Walco Elevators Pty Ltd (unreported, Cullen J, 13 March 1996) WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163 HEARING DATES: 05/07/2001; 05/25/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/26/2001