Inspector Ross Wolf v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 119

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Ross Wolf v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 119 PROSECUTOR: PARTIES : Inspector Ross Wolf DEFENDANT: BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: IRC1173 of 2002 CORAM: Kavanagh J CATCHWORDS : Section 15(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 prosecution - breach of Act by combination of failure in equipment upgrade, failure in system of work to ensure the positive isolation of the precipitator cells - precipitators continue to function and produce gas - employees exposure to ozone gas - subjective features considered including good industrial record of Division - penalty LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Insp Swee Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Insp Hannah v Wonar Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher CJ, CT1214 of 1990, 30 June 1992) Wilson's and Clyde CoalCo v English (1936) S.C. 883 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Insp Mayo-Ramsay) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, (1999-2000) 99 IR 29 Warman International Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (1998) 80 IR 326 CASES CITED : R v Thomson, R v Houlton (1999-2000) 49 NSWLR 383, (2000) 115 A Crim R 104 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1998) 83 IR 427 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Fernz Construction Materials Ltd (2000) 100 IR 23 Inspector Barbosa v Newstart 150 Pty Ltd t/as Style Wise Interiors (2002) NSWIRComm 64 Haynes v James Glass and Aluminium Pty Limited (unreported, CT91/772-775, 20 May 1994) Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 HEARING DATES: 03/31/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/17/2003