Legge v Coffey Engineering Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 319

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Legge v Coffey Engineering Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] NSWIRComm 319 APPELLANT Inspector Patrick Legge PARTIES : RESPONDENT Coffey Engineering Pty Limited FILE NUMBER: IRC 5379 of 2000 CORAM: Walton J Vice-President; Glynn J; Hungerford J Occupational Health and Safety - Appeal against dismissal of charge - Prosecution for failure to ensure health, safety and welfare at work of employee - Labour hire company employed injured worker to perform work at premises of client - Whether findings of fact at first instance were reasonably open - Nature of obligation to ensure safety - Special obligation of a labour hire company - Causal nexus of employer with alleged detriments to safety - Statutory defence - Offence found proven - Appeal upheld. CATCHWORDS : Appeal - Against acquittal for offence under occupational health and safety legislation - Whether leave to appeal required - Nature of appeal - Alleged errors of law and fact - Whether findings of fact at first instance reasonably open - Duty of appellate court - Leave to appeal granted - Offence found proven - Acquittal set aside - Appeal upheld. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 187 s 188 s 197 s 197A Pt 7 of Ch 4 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 15(1) s 18 s 53 Carrington Slipways Pty Ltd v Callaghan [1985] 11 IR 467 Coffey Engineering Pty Ltd v Legge (2001) 105 IR 234 Drake Personnel Ltd, t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Haynes v C I & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (1995) 60 IR 149 Legge v Coffey Engineering Pty Ltd (No 1) (2000) 103 IR 282 London Bank of Australia Ltd, The v Kendall (1920) 28 CLR 401 Shannon v Comalco Aluminium Ltd [1986] 19 IR 358 Solicitors (State) Award (No 3), Re (1996) 72 IR 225 CASES CITED : Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Dawson [1990] 37 IR 110 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v Drake Personnel Ltd, t/as Drake Industrial (No 1) (1997) 89 IR 374 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v Drake Personnel Ltd, t/as Drake Industrial (No 2) (1997) 89 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Byer) v Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 278 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Dubois) v Industry Staffing Services Pty Ltd, t/as Action Workforce (1999) 89 IR 430 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Keelty) v Crown in Right of the State of New South Wales (Police Service of New South Wales) (2001) 104 IR 268 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector May) v Swift Placements Pty Ltd (No 2) (1999) 96 IR 24 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mulder) v Arbor Products International (Australia) Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 81 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Robins) v Labour Co-operative Ltd (No 1) [2001] NSWIRComm 223 HEARING DATES: 04/05/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/07/2001