Morrison v Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 5

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Morrison v Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 5

PARTIES: Rodney Dale Morrison (Prosecutor) Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC 1189 of 2008

CORAM: Boland J President

CATCHWORDS: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Prosecution of employer under s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act - Guilty plea - Underground coal mining industry - Death of employee struck by unplanned release of hydraulic fluid - Nature and quality of offence - Foreseeability of risk - Nature of injury sustained - Availability of simple steps to avoid risk - Deterrence - Maximum penalty - Subjective considerations - Culpability relative to other offenders - Penalty imposed.

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED: Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000

Alcatel Australia Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1996) 70 IR 99 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Drake Personnel Ltd t/as Drake Industrial v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 432 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Haynes v CI & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 Inspector Kent v Duct Master Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 143 Inspector Legge v Intercast & Forge Pty Ltd [2006] NSWIRComm 182 Inspector Mayo-Ramsay v Rail Infrastructure Corporation [2002] NSWIRComm 217 Inspector Mayo-Ramsay (WorkCover Authority of NSW) v The Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (NSW Fire Brigades) (No 2) [2007] NSWIRComm 168 Inspector Patton v Western Freight Management Pty Ltd (No 2) [2009] NSWIRComm 124 Inspector Przibilla v Hyne & Son Pty Limited [2004] NSWIRComm 384 Inspector Short v The Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (NSW Police) [2007] NSWIRComm 138; (2007) 164 IR 198 Inspector Simpson v Tomago Aluminium [2005] NSWIRComm 117 CASES CITED: Inspector Swadling v Empire Talkies Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 191 Inpector Amanda Templeton v Pirelli Cables Australia Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 177 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Maddaford v CSR Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 337 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Morrison v Centennial Coal Company Limited & Anor [2010] NSWIRComm 4 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 416; (2003) 130 IR 364 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 Veen v R (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465; (1988) 77 ALR 385 Warman International Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (1998) 80 IR 326 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (Department of Education and Training) [2001] NSWIRComm 313; (2001) 112 IR 1 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ian Batty) v Graincorp Operations Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 127 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Lyons) v Warman International Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 62; (2001) 105 IR 236 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Sequeira) v Foti's International Fireworks (Displays) Pty Limited [2003] NSWIRComm 471 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Stobo) v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [2002] NSWIRComm 72; (2002) 115 IR 130