Mainbrace Constructions Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Charles) [2000] NSWIRComm 239

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Mainbrace Constructions Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Charles) [2000] NSWIRComm 239 APPELLANT: PARTIES : Mainbrace Constructions Pty Limited RESPONDENT: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Stephen Charles) FILE NUMBER: IRC 1780 of 2000 CORAM: Wright J President; Hungerford J; Boland J CATCHWORDS : Occupational Health & Safety - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Offences under s 16(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - Elements of s 16(1) - Meaning of place of work - Whether "at the employer's place of work" in s 16 (1) includes means of access to the place of work - s 53 defence - Application of parity and consistency principles - Appeal dismissed Criminal Appeal Act 1912 s 5AA(1) Factories Shops and Industries Act 1962 s 40 LEGISLATION CITED : Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (UK) s 3 Industrial Relations Act 1996 s 196 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 s 4 s 15(1) s 15(2) s 16(1) s 17 s 53 Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd v Luna (1969) 123 CLR 305 Boral Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd v Magill (1995) 58 IR 363 Butler v Fife Coal Co [1912] AC 149 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Shire of Hastings (1977) 180 CLR 266 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) (2000) 99 IR 29 Channon v The Queen (1978) 20 ALR 1 Clarke v W C Meinhardt and Partners Pty Ltd (unreported, Fisher CJ, 30 June 1992) Drake Personnel Ltd t/a 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 Page v Woolworths Ltd (unreported, Peterson J, CT93/1044, 9 September 1994) Italo Australia Construction Pty Ltd v Parkes (1988) 24 IR 428 Kennedy-Taylor (NSW) Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Charles) [2000] NSW IRComm 240 Kirkby v A & M I Hanson Pty Ltd (1994) 55 IR 40 CASES CITED : Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Postiglionie v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Associated Octel Co Ltd [1996] 1 WLR 1543 R v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 R v Stahl [1999] NSWCCA 160 Rice v Henley (1914) 19 CLR 19 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 Sydney County Council v Coulson (1987) 21 IR 477 Warman International Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) (1998) 80 IR 326 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Hannan) v Bitupave Ltd t/as Boral Asphalt (2000) 98 IR 246 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) v Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd (unreported, Walton J, Vice President, IRC 97/4732, 4733, 19 October, 1999) WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Keenan) v Technical and Further Education Commission (1999) 92 IR 251 HEARING DATES: 08/30/2000; 08/31/2000 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/07/2000