Inspector Kenneth John Barnard v Rail Infrastructure Corporation [2001] NSWIRComm 255

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Kenneth John Barnard v Rail Infrastructure Corporation [2001] NSWIRComm 255 PROSECUTOR: Inspector Kenneth John Barnard PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Rail Infrastructure Corporation FILE NUMBER: IRC 2671 and IRC 2672 of 2000 CORAM: Haylen J Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - s 15(1) - work involving crossing of live railway lines - work at night - failure to supervise - failure to provide a safe system of work - system operating on basis of "looking out for yourself" - whether "looking out for yourself" is a system of work or a safe system of work - paper systems insufficient to ensure safety - system of supervision confusing and inadequate - breakdown of system warning of approach of train - whether mere fact of provision of training amounts to a safey system of work - relevance of changes made to work system after accident - particulars of charge - whether particulars are essential ingredients of charge - carelessness or inadvertence by employee does not abrogate duty of employer - s 53 defences - mere assertions insufficient - onus on defendant to establish defence - onus not discharged - offences proved

CATCHWORDS : Practice and Prodcedure - Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - Prosecution's right of reply - practice of Commission in Court Session

Evidence - Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - relevance of actions taken by the defendant after accident - admissibility of such evidence LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Pt 4 Criminal Procedure Generally s 97 and s 98 Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd v Callaghan (1985) 11 IR 467 Concrete Constructions Group Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Dubois) (2000) 99 IR 16 Cullen v State Rail Authority (1989) 31 IR 205 Department of Mineral Resources (NSW (Chief Inspector McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation Ltd (1997) 98 A Crim.R 481 at 484 Inspector Davies v Prospect Electricity (IC NSW No 747 of 991, unreported 9 November 1992) Inspector Page v Growth Equities Services Pty Ltd (CT 1047 of 1993, 9 September 1994 - Peterson J) McMartin v The Broken Hill Prop. Co Ltd (2000) 100 IR 241 CASES CITED : Nelson v John Lysaght (Aust) Ltd (1974-5) 132 CLR 201 R v Saffron (No.1) (1988) 17 NSWLR 395 at 446-447 Schultz v Tamworth City Council (1995) 58 IR 221 per Fisher CJ Shannon v Comalco Aluminium Ltd (1986) 19 IR 358 at 363-364 State Rail Authority of NSW v Dawson (1990) 37 IR 110 at 120 -121 Sydney County Council v Coulson [1987] 21 IR 477 at 480 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Glass) v Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd (No1) [2000] 101 IR 239 WorkCover of NSW (Inspector Mayo-Ramsey) v Maitland City Council [1988] 83 IR 362 at 381 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Piggott) v Capral Aluminium (1989) 31 IR 207 HEARING DATES: 08/14/2001; 08/15/2001; 08/16/2001; 08/28/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/19/2001