Inspector Martin Carmody v Luke Tsougranis [No 2] [2003] NSWIRComm 108

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Martin Carmody v Luke Tsougranis [No 2] [2003] NSWIRComm 108 PROSECUTOR: Inspector Martin Carmody PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Luke Tsougranis FILE NUMBER: IRC 4365 and 4368 of 2000 CORAM: Haylen J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - s 16(1) - renovation of residential building - prosecution commenced against structural engineer - prosecutions in relation to same building work commenced against owner/builder and builders - focus of charge on risk associated with unstable, free standing wall - focus of defence case on collapse of wall and responsibility of owner/builder and builders - evidence of acceptable professional engineering practice - acceptable professional or business practice need not necessarily satisfy absolute obligations under the Act - demolition by owner/builder leaves wall without support from surrounding structures - wall thereafter unstable - obligation of structural engineer to ensure safety of persons working on building site - assumptions as to nature of wall, its embedment and level of excavation not justified - instability of wall and risk of wall falling foreseeable - offence proved Evidence Act s 128 (2) LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act s 4 s 16(1) s 53

Inspector Carmody v George Agapiou [2001] NSWIRComm 268 Inspector Clarke v W L Meinhardt and Partners Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher CJ, 1212 and 1213 of 1990, 30 June 1992 Inspector Carmody v Luke Tsougranis (2002) NSWIRComm 282 Haynes v C.I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (1994) 60 IR 149 Inspector Maltby v Harris Excavation and Demolition Pty Ltd [1997] NSWIRComm 58 CASES CITED : Inspector Page v Woolworths Ltd, unreported Peterson J, CT93/ 1044, 9 September 1994) Mainbrace Constructions Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Charles) (2000) 102 IR 84 State Rail Authority (NSW) v Dawson (1990) 37 IR 110 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Farrell) v Ross Colin Morrison [2001] NSWIRComm 325 WorkCover Authurity of New South Wales (Inspector Hannon) v Bitupave Ltd t/as Boral Asphalt (2000) 98 IR 246 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Keenan) v Technical and Further Education Commission (1999) 92 IR 251 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) v Maitland City Council (1998) 83 IR 362 HEARING DATES: 03/25/2002; 03/26/2002; 03/27/2002; 03/28/2002; 08/29/2002; 08/30/2002; 09/02/2002; 10/15/2002; 12/09/2002; 12/10/2002; 12/11/2002; 12/12/2002; 02/11/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 04/10/2003