Bultitude v Grice Constructions Pty Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 20

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Bultitude v Grice Constructions Pty Limited [2002] NSWIRComm 20 APPELLANT: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Bultitude) PARTIES : RESPONDENT: Grice Constructions Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 2297 of 2000 CORAM: Wright J President; Walton J Vice-President; Hungerford J Occupational health and safety - Appeal from Industrial Magistrate - Leave to appeal - Acquittal of defendant in proceedings under s 16 of the OHS Act 1983 - Appeal under s 197A of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 - Whether leave to appeal required - Whether Magistrate erred in applying defence under s 53(a) of OHS Act - Whether error in application of Court Session judgment in Kellogg - Relevance of foreseeability - Leave to appeal granted - Appeal upheld. CATCHWORDS : Appeal - Occupational health and safety - Appeal from Industrial Magistrate - Leave to appeal - Acquittal of defendant in proceedings under s 16 of the OHS Act 1983 - Appeal under s 197A of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 - Whether leave to appeal required - Whether Magistrate erred in applying defence under s 53(a) of OHS Act - Whether error in application of Court Session judgment in Kellogg - Relevance of foreseeability - Leave to appeal granted - Appeal upheld. Construction Safety Regulations 1950 reg 77 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 s 5AA LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1991 s 297 (now repealed) Industrial Relations Act 1996 Pt 7 Ch 4 s 188 s 191 s 196 s 197 s 197A Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15 s 16 s 53 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd v Callaghan (1985) 11 IR 467 CI & D Manufacturing Pty Limited v Registrar, Industrial Court of New South Wales (1996) 40 NSWLR 1 Drake Personnel Ltd t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Edwards v National Coal Board [1949] 1 KB 704 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Mace v Murray (1955) 92 CLR 370 New South Wales v Macquarie Bank Ltd (1992) 30 NSWLR 307 CASES CITED : Paris v Stepney Borough Council [1951] AC 367 Shannon v Comalco Aluminium Ltd (1986) 19 IR 358 Slivak v Lurgi (Aust) Pty Ltd (2001) 75 ALJR 481, 103 IR 52 Stone Microsystems (Aust) Pty Ltd v Kwong (1997) 42 NSWLR 160 Thompson v Mastertouch TV Service Pty Ltd (1978) 19 ALR 547 Warman International Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1998) 80 IR 326 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Byer) v Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd (2001) 110 IR 182 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) v Kellogg (Aust) Pty Limited (No 1) (1999) 101 IR 239 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Keenan) v Technical and Further Education Commission (1999) 92 IR 251 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Kelsey) v The University of Sydney (unreported, Hill J, 2 April 1997) HEARING DATES: 11/17/2000 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 05/30/2002