Inspector Hayes v 7 Star Glass Pty Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 174

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Inspector Hayes v 7 Star Glass Pty Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 174

PARTIES: Inspector Hayes (Prosecutor) 7 Star Glass Pty Ltd (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC1433 of 2009

CORAM: Kavanagh J

CATCHWORDS: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - breach of s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 by defendant - plea of guilty - fatal injury to employee - failure to provide safe system of work for particular task - task not risk assessed - failure to provide general training and instruction - failure to provide adequate supervision of task - foreseeability a factor - gravity of the potential risk - simple and straightforward steps to remedy the defects in the system available - general and specific deterrence - remorse shown and contrition expressed - company still trading - company not without assets.

LEGISLATION CITED: Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999

Cahill v State of NSW (Department of Community Services (No 4)) [2008] NSWIRComm 201 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Department of Mineral Resources of New South Wales (Chief Inspector B R McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 215 ALR 213; (2005) 228 CLR 357 CASES CITED: Morrison v Powercoal Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 416; (2003) 130 IR 364 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 31 R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; 115 ACrimR104 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131; (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) v ACI Operations Pty Limited (unreported decision of Schmidt J dated 25 February 1994)