Inspector Mason v Country Energy [2003] NSWIRComm 206

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Mason v Country Energy [2003] NSWIRComm 206 PROSECUTION Inspector Gary Mason PARTIES : DEFENDANT Country Energy (formerly known as NorthPower) FILE NUMBER: IRC 1279 of 2002 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - Prosecution under s 15 (1) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act - Employee injured when attempting to repair power lines brought down by crop dusting plane - Employee suffered serious burns - Failure to provide a safe system of work - No written risk assessment - Offence proven - Penalty imposed LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Supreme Court (Summary Jurisdiction) Act 1967 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, 99 IR 29 Independent Cargo and Wool Services Pty Ltd v Inspector Frank Paul Mingare (Industrial Court of NSW [Full Court] Unreported, 10 March 1994, at 4) Inspector John Forster v NorthPower [2002] NSWIRComm 92 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 CASES CITED : R v Thompson, R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309 Wales v NorthPower (formerly known as Northern Rivers) [1998] NSWIRComm 35 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Tyler) v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 WorkCover Authority NSW (Inspector Tynam-Perkins) v Maine Lighting Pty Ltd (1995) 100 IR 248 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Petar Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd & Anor [2000] NSWIRComm 277 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Reynolds) v NorthPower [2001] NSWIRComm 104 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Victor Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163 HEARING DATES: 04/16/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/26/2003