Inspector Spence v William Bevan Thompson [2009] NSWIRComm 205

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Inspector Spence v William Bevan Thompson [2009] NSWIRComm 205

PARTIES: Inspector Ronald John Spence (Prosecutor) William Bevan Thompson (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC1787; IRC1788 of 2008

CORAM: Kavanagh J

CATCHWORDS: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - penalty - foreseeability - prosecutions under s 8(1) and s 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - s10 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act - unsafe safety mesh under roofing - unsafe work methods - no protective equipment - employees/contractors/sub-contractors - lack of appropriate training by sub-contractor - failure to ensure contractors safe work method was amended - no recognition of risk on assessment - gravity of offence - general and specific deterrence - early plea - co-operation with Work Cover - victim impact statement - parity - totality - penalties

Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Fines Act 1996 Industrial Relations Act 1996

Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Dept of Education and Training v Keenan (2001)105 IR 181 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Inspector Glass v Foamex Polystyrene Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 100 Inspector Sharpin v A Team Concrete (Aust) Pty Ltd & Ors [2004] NSWIRComm 182 Inspector Simpson v Tomago Aluminium Co Pty Ltd (Haylen J, IRC 5351 of 2003, 27 April 2004, unreported) Inspector Spence v Michael Carter and Black Cat Roofing Pty Limited [2009] NSWIRComm 161 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 CASES CITED: Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Limited (2003) 130 IR 364 Pearce v R (1998) 194 CLR 610 Postiglione v R (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220 R v Mansour (1999) NSWCCA 180 R v Previtera (1997) 94 ACrimR 76 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) v ACI Operations Pty Limited (Schmidt J, CT93/1025, 25 February 1994, unreported)