Inspector Charles v Rawson Homes Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 350

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Charles v Rawson Homes Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 350 PROSECUTOR Inspector Charles PARTIES : DEFENDANT Rawson Homes Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 5178 & 5179 of 2002 CORAM: Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - Prosecution under sections 16(1) and 17(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act - No evidence offered in relation to charge under s 17(1) - Charge under s 17(1) dismissed - Plea of guilty to charge under s 16(1) - Second offence - Building industry - Contractor's son injured when he accompanied his father on site - Son fell through a stairway void - No handrails or barriers erected - Foreseeability - Offence proven - Penalty imposed LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, 99 IR 29 Department of Mineral Resources v Berrima Coal (2001) 105 IR 348 Department of Mineral Resources v Kembla Coal & Coke Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 8 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Limited (1996) 82 IR 384 Inspector Hannah v Albury City Council (1999) 90 IR 397 Inspector Hannah v Wonar Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher CJ, Glynn and Cullen JJ, Matter No 1214 of 1990, 30 June 1992) Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Nesmat Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1998) 87 IR 312 CASES CITED : R v Thompson, R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 State Rail Authority of NSW v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (2000) 102 IR 218 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Warman v WorkCover Authority (1998) 80 IR 326 Wong v Melinda Group Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 118 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Atco Controls Pty Limited (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163 WorkCover Authority v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover v Capral Aluminium Pty Limited (1998) 82 IR 468 HEARING DATES: 08/21/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/24/2003