Inspector David Singh v Steven Anthony Lindner; Inspector David Singh v Kaybron No 5 Pty Ltd; Inspector David Singh v Austec Panel Systems Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 307

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

Inspector David Singh v Steven Anthony Lindner; Inspector David Singh v Kaybron No 5 Pty Ltd; Inspector David Singh v Austec Panel Systems Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 307 CITATION: This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

PROSECUTOR Inspector David Singh

DEFENDANT (IRC 4/3285) Steven Anthony Lindner PARTIES: DEFENDANT (IRC 4/3286) Kaybron No 5 Pty Ltd

DEFENDANT (IRC 4/3287) Austec Panel Systems Australia Pty Ltd

FILE NUMBER(S): 3285 & 3286 & 3287 of 2004

CORAM: Marks J

CATCHWORDS: Occupational health and safety - prosecution - guilty pleas - alcove floor gave way - prior removal of ceiling supporting alcove floor - worker sustained serious injuries - failure to identify a forseeable hazard - failure to properly supervise - failure to provide training re risks - Prosecutor to prove facts adverse to defendants beyond reasonable doubt - no evidence concerning forseeability of risk other than that constituted by plea of guilty - objective seriousness of the offence - unable to assess forseeability - causal connection between creation of risk and conduct of defendants - specific and general deterrence - subjective matters considered - s 6 of the Fines Act considered - penalties imposed - convictions delayed until resolution of costs issues.

Fines Act s 6 LEGISLATION CITED: Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 s8(1) 8(2) 26(1)

Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Cheung v The Queen (2001) 209 CLR 1 Drake Personnel Ltd t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'Ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 188 Maxwell v The Queen (1995-1996) 184 CLR 501 CASES CITED: Morrison v Coal Operations Australia Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWIRComm 96 Isaacs v R (1997) 41 NSW LR 374 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Storey [1998] 1 VR 359 Stephen Finlay McMartin v Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company Pty Limited & Ors [2005] NSWIRComm 31