Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92

PROSECUTOR: Inspector Dennis Howard

DEFENDANT (Matter Nos IRC 2572, 2573 & 2776 of 2006): Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd PARTIES: DEFENDANT (Matter Nos IRC 2574 & 2777 of 2006): Bilfinger Berger AG

DEFENDANT (Matter Nos IRC 2578 & 2775 of 2006): Cross City Tunnel Pty Limited

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 2572; 2573; 2574; 2578; 2775; 2776; 2777 of 2006

CORAM: Walton J Vice-President

CATCHWORDS: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - prosecutions under s 8(1) and s8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - Cross City Tunnel Project - defendants engaged in construction of ventilation tunnel - sentencing - relevant general principles - objective seriousness - aggravating and mitagating factors considered - maximum penalty - fatality - risk of serious injury - forseeability - simple remedial measures - deterrence (general and specific) - significant risks in tunnelling operations - subjective features - contrition - assistance to family - co operation with WorkCover - prior record (Baulderstone Hornibrook) - good industrial citzenship - totality - parity - penalty imposed - moiety - costs

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED: Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

Alcatel Australia Limited v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Clyant) (1996) 70 IR 99 Cahill v State of New South Wales (Department of Community Services) (No 4) [2008] NSWIRComm 201 Cahill v State of New South Wales (Department of Education and Training) (No 3) [2009] NSWIRComm 97 Cahill v State of New South Wales (NSW Police) (No 2) [2005] NSWIRComm 400 Cameron v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 339 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Capral Aluminimum Limited v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mayo-Ramsay) (2000) 99 IR 29 Capral Aluminium Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Corinthian Industries (Sydney) Pty Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wilson) (2000) 99 IR 159 Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (Department of Education and Training) v Keenan (2001) 105 IR 181 Cullen v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1993) 49 IR 166 Daly v Smith (2006) NSWIRComm 111 Department of Mineral Resources (NSW) (Chief Inspector McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 Environment Protection Authority v Nalco Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 831 Environment Protection Authority v Pannowitz [2005] NSWLEC 175 Fisher v Samaras (1996) 82 IR 384 Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Fisher) (1999) 91 IR 66 Graincorp Operations Ltd v Inspector Mason (2006) 157 IR 103 Haynes & Callaghan v CI & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Independent Cargo and Wool Services Pty Ltd v Inspector Mingare (Full Court, 10 March 1994, unreported) Inspector Benbow v Planada Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 275 Inspector Green v Camilleri Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 152 IR 156 Inspector Hannah v Wonar Pty Ltd (Full Court, 30 June 1992, unreported) Inspector Haynes v James Glass and Aluminium Pty Ltd (Fisher, CJ, 20 May 1994, unreported) Inspector Jelley v Albright & Wilson (Australia) Limited (2007) 164 IR 456 Inspector Jones v Challita (2006) 153 IR 409 Inspector Lai v Rexma Pty Ltd [2008] NSWIRComm 78 Inspector Maddaford v CSR Limited and Mulgoa Quarries Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 337 Inspector Morrison v Cumnock No 1 Colliery Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 151 Inspector Patton v Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd (No 2) (2003) 123 IR 350 Inspector Sharpin v Buildcorp Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 372 Inspector Short v the Crown in the Right of New South Wales (NSW Police) (2007) 164 IR 198 Inspector Yeung v Thiess Pty Ltd (No 2) (2004) NSWIRComm 96 Inspector Yeung v Wilson t/a Wilson's Tree Service (2005) 143 IR 187 JT & LC Tippett Pty Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales [2008] NSWIRComm 177 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Manpac Industries Pty Ltd (formerly t/a Pacific Concrete & Quarries Pty Ltd) v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) (2001) 106 IR 435 Morrison v Coal Operations Australia Ltd (No 2) (2005) 141 IR 465 Morrison v Eureka Opals Pty Ltd (No 3) (2006) 153 IR 191 Morrison v Powercoal (2003) 130 IR 364 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (2004) 137 IR 253 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No 3) (2005) 147 IR 117 CASES CITED: Morrison v Waratah Engineering Pty Ltd (2005) 139 IR 186 Narayan v Inspector Chamings (2007) 169 IR 414 Newcastle Wallsend Coal Co Pty Ltd v Workcover Authority (NSW) (Inspector McMartin) (2006) 159 IR 121 R v Allpass (1993) 72 A Crim R 561 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v Gordon (1994) 71 A Crim R 459 R v Gorman (2002) 137 A Crim R 326 R v MacDonell (unreported, Court of Criminal Appeal) R v Moon (2000) 117 A Crim R 497 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v O'Neill (1974) 2 NSWLR 582 R v Radich (1954) NZLR 86 R v Rushby (1977) 1 NSWLR 594 at 598 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300 R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Ridge Consolidated Pty Ltd v Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mauger) (2002) 115 IR 78 Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 Weininger v R (2003) 212 CLR 629 Wong v Melinda Group Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 118 Workcover Authority (Inspector Carmody) v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 43 Workcover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Maddaford) v Coleman (2004) 138 IR 21 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Limited (2000) 95 IR 383 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Downie) v Menzies Property Services Pty Ltd (2004) 136 IR 449 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 80 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Farrell) v Morrison (No 2) (2002) 112 IR 312 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Farrell) v Schrader (2002) 112 IR 284 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glen David Gordon) v Walco Elevators Pty Ltd (unreported, NSW Industrial Court, 13 March 1996) Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Hannah) v Keough's Plant Hire Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 118 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Hopkins) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Lancaster) v Burnshaw Constructions Pty Ltd (2002) 121 IR 119 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mansell) v Air Express International (Australia) Pty Ltd (1996) 83 IR 64 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mansell) v Anytime Industrial Services Pty Ltd (2001) 110 IR 34 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mansell) v Chen (2004) 137 IR 33 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mansell) v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (2002) 116 IR 158 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mayell) v D J Gleeson Pty Ltd [2006] NSWIRComm 363 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Moore) v Blacktown City Council (2003) 128 IR 361 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Petar Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Limited and Another [2000] NSWIRComm 277 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Short) v Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (NSW Police) (2007) 164 IR 198 Workcover Authority of New South Wales v (Inspector Ankucic) v Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (Department of Education and Training) (2001) 112 IR 1 Workcover Authority of New South Wales v Consolidated Constructions Pty Ltd (2001) 109 IR 316 Workcover Authority of New South Wales v Fletcher Construction Australia Ltd (2002) 123 IR 121 Workcover Authority of New South Wales v Waugh (1995) 59 IR 89 Workcover Authority of NSW (Inspector Lyons) v Warman International Ltd (2001) 105 IR 236 Workcover New South Wales (Inspector Page) v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) (2000) 99 IR 163