May v Brooker Marine Products Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 101

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : May v Brooker Marine Products Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 101 PROSECUTOR Inspector Louise May PARTIES : DEFENDANT Brooker Marine Products Pty Limited

FILE NUMBER: IRC 1407, IRC 1408, IRC 1410 of 2000 CORAM: Wright J President CATCHWORDS : Occupational health and safety - Breach of s 15(1) and s 16(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - Withdrawal of charge under the Dangerous Goods Act 1975 - Plea of guilty - Serious accident involving fire and explosion on factory site - Employer involved in the building of small boats - Employee smoking in part of factory where inflammable goods stored - Subsequent change in non-smoking policy - Principles of sentencing under OHS legislation - Gravity of offence - Seriousness of breach where risks to safety beyond the seriousness of the injuries occasioned by the relevant accident - Means and circumstances of the defendant - Totality principle - Defendant's lack of prior convictions - Early plea of guilty - Guideline judgment in R v Thomson and R v Houlton - Convictions recorded - Fines imposed - Costs. LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) s 16(1) Dangerous Goods Act 1975 s 9(1)(a) Callaghan v Saunders Constructions Pty Limited (unreported, 26 November 1993) Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Department of Mineral Resources (NSW) (McKensey) v Kembla Coal & Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1999) 90 IR 464 McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2000] NSWCCA 367 CASES CITED : Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 Pearce v The Queen (1999) 194 CLR 610 R v Winchester (1992) 58 A Crim R 345 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Twynam-Perkins) v Maine Lighting Pty Limited (1995) 100 IR 248 WorkCover Authority of New South (Inspector Mulder) v Yass Shire Council (2000) 99 IR 284 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Sheppard) v The State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 179 HEARING DATES: 10/19/2000; 11/03/2000 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 05/22/2001