WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Penfold) v Fernz Construction Materials Limited [2000] NSWIRComm 99

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Penfold) v Fernz Construction Materials Limited [2000] NSWIRComm 99 PROSECUTOR: WorkCover Authorityof New South Wales (Inspector Penfold) PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Fernz Construction Materials Limited

FILE NUMBER: 3235 & 3236 of 1998 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - admission of evidence in sentencing proceedings - direction as to the application of rules of evidence in sentencing proceedings - nature and seriousness of offence - obvious and serious risk of injury - serious injury - existence of settled safety procedures - procedure not sufficiently comprehensive or communicated - paper systems - uncertainty over procedure - simple and straightforward steps would have prevented accident - steps taken after accident - subsequent steps may evidence the nature and quality of the offence - layers of safety - mitigation due to existing safety systems - subjective features - plea of guilty - lack of prior conviction - conscientious approach to safety - good industrial citizenship - co-operation with prosecutor - contrition - rehabilitation - s 556A of the Crimes Act 1900 - guilty verdict entered - penalty $50,000 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 s 556A Evidence Act 1995 ss 4; 81; 87; and 135 WorkCover Authorityof New South Wales (Inspector Penfold) v Fernz Construction Materials Ltd (1999) 91 IR 119 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (Inspector McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Schultz v Tamworth City Council (1995) 58 IR 221 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v El Karhani (1990) 21 NSWLR 370 Workcover Authority of NSW (Inspector Peter Ankucic) v McDonalds Australia Ltd and Another (unreported, Walton J, Vice-President, Matter No.'s IRC1104 and 1106 of 1998, 4 February 2000) Wong v Melinda Group Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 118 Warman International Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Insp. Riley) v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1998) 83 IR 427 Sydney City Council v Coulson (1987) 21 IR 477 CASES CITED : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Tyler) v Abigroup Contractors Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 40 Inspector Davies v Supercoat Feeds Pty Limited (unreported, CT96/1020, 22 April 1997) WorkCover Authority of NSW Callaghan v Saunders Constructions Pty Ltd (unreported, Maidment J, CT 93/1062, 26 November 1993) WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Piggott) v Capral (1998) 82 IR 468 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Kelsey) v University of Sydney (unreported, Hill J, Matter no. CT1280 of 1995, 2 April 1997) WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Robins) v Ecolab Pty Ltd (1999) 90 IR 413 Alcatel Australia Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Clyant) (1996) 70 IR 99 Nesmat Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 87 IR 312 R v Winchester (1992) 58 A Crim R 345 Huang (1994) 78 A Crim R 111 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW v A M Hoipo & Sons Pty Ltd [2000] NSW IRComm 16 Corinthinian Industries (Sydney) Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wilson) [2000] NSWIR Comm 46 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Waugh (1995) 59 IR 89 HEARING DATES: 03/22/1999; 10/22/1999 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/15/2000