WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Peter Hannan) v Bitupave Limited, trading as Boral Asphalt [2000] NSWIRComm 50

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Peter Hannan) v Bitupave Limited, trading as Boral Asphalt [2000] NSWIRComm 50 PROSECUTOR WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Peter Hannan) PARTIES : DEFENDANT Bitupave Limited, trading as Boral Asphalt FILE NUMBER: IRC 5867 and IRC 5868 of 1996 CORAM: Hungerford J Evidence - Circumstantial evidence - Expert evidence - Whether each fact to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt to enable inference of guilt - necessary intermediate facts - Rule relating to circumstantial evidence - Ultimate inference of guilt CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - Alleged failure to ensure the health and safety of employees operating a bitumen spray tanker - Unsafe system of work - Failure to instruct and train - Ignition of a flammable cloud of vapour - Explosion - Fireball - Whether one or two offences - Whether separate and distinct charges - Causal connection of defendant employer with the detriments to safety - Whether reasonably practicable for defendant to comply with statutory obligation - Whether caused in circumstances over which the defendant had no control and where impracticable to make provision - Defences not made out - Offences proven LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) s 15(2) s 16(1) s 17 s 53 Boral Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd v Magill (1995) 37 NSWLR 150, (1995) 58 IR 363 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Dawson [1990] 37 IR 110 McMartin v The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (unreported, Supreme Court, Grove J, 86/20002, 05/02/88) Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (1994) 60 IR 149 Rech v F M Hire Pty Ltd (1998) 83 IR 293 Drake Personnel Ltd, t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'Ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (unreported, Walton J, Vice-President, IRC98/1104-1106, 04/02/00) Kirkby v A & M I Hanson Pty Ltd (1994) 55 IR 40 Hannah v Ricegrowers Co-operative Ltd (unreported, Fisher P, 90/88, 20/11/90) Independent Cargo & Wool Services Pty Ltd v Mingare (unreported, Fisher P, Glynn and Peterson JJ, CT92/1041, 10/03/94) CASES CITED : Tyler v Sydney Electricity [1993] 47 IR 1 Warman International Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 Watson v Southern Asphalters Pty Ltd (1996) 83 IR 446 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Viesis) v Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd (1996) 85 IR 12 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Dowling) v Overtop Pty Ltd (1998) 86 IR 319 McVernon v Royce Roofing Industries Pty Ltd [1988] 25 IR 383 Cullen v State Rail Authority (NSW) [1989] 31 IR 207 R v Cable [1947] 47 SR (NSW) 183 R v Rothery [1925] 25 SR (NSW) 451 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 Chamberlain v The Queen [No 2] (1984) 153 CLR 521 HEARING DATES: 10/22/1997; 10/23/1997; 10/24/1997; 03/02/1998; 03/03/1998; 08/12/1998; 08/13/1998; 03/22/1999; 03/23/1999; 08/23/1999; 08/24/1999; 08/25/1999; 09/23/1999 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/06/2000