Morrison v United Collieries Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 439

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Morrison v United Collieries Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 439 PROSECUTOR: Rodney Morrison PARTIES : DEFENDANT: United Collieries Pty Ltd (ACN 001 990 209) FILE NUMBER: IRC 4706 and 4707 of 2001 CORAM: Schmidt J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health and Safety - prosecutions under section 15 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - mining industry - injury caused by rib spall - foreseeability of deputy's actions - unstable rib conditions - whether it was unsafe to halt mining at the place where repair work was being undertaken - conflicting expert witnesses - causal nexus - charges not proven - charges dismissed - prosecution to bear the defendant's costs as agreed or assessed in accordance with the Court's Rules

Coal Mines Regulation Act 1982 LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Underground Mines (Regulations) 1984 Cullen v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1989) 31 IR 207 CASES CITED : Rodney Morrison v United Collieries Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 36 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mulder) v Arbor Products International (Australia) Pty Limited (2001) 105 IR 81 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Patton) v Fletcher Constructions Australia Limited (2002) 123 IR 121 HEARING DATES: 05/21/2002; 05/22/2002; 05/23/2002; 05/24/2002; 05/27/2002; 05/28/2002; 05/29/2002; 05/30/2002; 12/10/2002; 12/11/2002; 03/04/2003; 03/05/2002; 03/12/2003; 08/25/2003; 08/26/2003; 10/27/2003; 10/28/2003; 10/29/2003; 10/30/2003; 10/31/2003; 11/12/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/16/2003