WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) v NorthPower [2001] NSWIRComm 104

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Reynolds) v NorthPower [2001] NSWIRComm 104 PROSECUTOR: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Adrian Reynolds) PARTIES : DEFENDANT: NorthPower FILE NUMBER: IRC1033 of 1999 CORAM: Glynn J CATCHWORDS : Occupational health and safety - access granted by NorthPower employee to energised sub-station by person non-authorised according to NorthPower's policy - non-authorised person also not trained in accordance with Electricity (Workers' Safety) Regulation, 1992 - non-authorised person injured - cables covered with earth coloured insulation in fact alive - prosecution of non-authorised person's employer in relation to same incident - principles of parity and consistency - circumstances under which previous conviction on the record - maximum discount for early plea and other factors. Occupational Health & Safety Act 1983 s 16(1) s 49(2) LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 s 439 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 22 Electricity (Workers' Safety) Regulation 1992 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) [2000] NSWIRComm 71, (2000) 99 IR 29 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ch'ng) [(1990) 90 IR 464] Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Thomson, R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Winchester [1993] 58 ACrim R 345 Slattery (1996) ACrimR 519 CASES CITED : SRA v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Dubois) [2000] NSWIRComm 261] Veen v The Queen [(1987-88) 164 CLR 465] WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Piggott) v Capral Aluminium Ltd [(1998) 83 IR 211] WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector McDonald) v Commonwealth Steel Company Limited [(1999) 90 IR 297] WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Gilbert) v EnergyAustralia (formerly Sydney Electricity) [(1998) 85 IR 99] WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Sheppard) v The State Rail Authority of NSW (unreported, 99/3369, 6/10/00, Wright J, President) WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Keenan) v NorthPower (formerly known as Northern Rivers Electricity) (unreported, Fisher P, IRC96/5172, 9/2/98) HEARING DATES: 03/02/2000 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/07/2001