Inspector Elizabeth Benbow v Planada Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 275

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Elizabeth Benbow v Planada Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 275 PROSECUTION: PARTIES : Inspector Elizabeth Benbow DEFENDANT: Planada Holdings Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER: IRC4099 of 2000 CORAM: Kavanagh J CATCHWORDS : Prosecution under s 15(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act -Immigrant workers, without training or instruction, required to drive forklifts - Injury reflection of an offence the nature and quality of which is serious - No procedures in place for assessment of risk involved in performing forklift truck work nor any system of work in place for safe working while operating a forklift truck - Question as to mitigation of penalty when offence most serious and company impecunious - Question as to whether consideration of specified deterrence relevant in the circumstance where company not trading LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector James Swee Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Department of Mineral Resources of New South Wales (Chief Inspector B R McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Lyons) v Warman International Limited (2001) 105 IR 236 Ferguson v Nelmac (1992) 92 IR 188 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 CASES CITED : Haynes v James Glass & Aluminium Pty Ltd (unreported, CT91/772-775, 20 May 1994 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610, 99 IR 29 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Limited (1996) 82 IR 384 Ferguson v Nelmac (1999) 92 IR 188