Inspector Wade v North Coast Area Health Service [2005] NSWIRComm 349

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION: Inspector Wade v North Coast Area Health Service [2005] NSWIRComm 349

PROSECUTOR WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wade) PARTIES: DEFENDANT North Coast Area Health Service

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 3146, 3147, 3148, 3149, 3150 and 3151 of 2003

CORAM: Staff J

CATCHWORDS: Occupational health and safety - Prosecutions under s 15(1) and 16(1) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act 1983 - Health industry employee and patient assaulted by another patient - Fatal injury - Late guilty plea - Claim for privilege - Loss of privilege of expert report - Section 119 and s 122 of Evidence Act - Relevance of consequences or potential consequences of breach of statute to gravity of offence - Failure to provide adequate information, instruction, supervision and training - Failures re safety and security - Failure to provide safe systems re timely and appropriate response to activation of duress alarms - Objective seriousness - Specific and general deterrence - Subjective matters considered - Totality - Penalties imposed - Order for costs

Australian Securities Commission Act 1989 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Evidence Act 1995 Health Administration Act 1982 LEGISLATION CITED: Health Services Act 1997 Mental Health Act 1990 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000

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