Inspector MacKenzie v Fujifilm Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 000 064 433) (formerly Hanimex Pty Limited) [2006] NSWIRComm 74

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Inspector MacKenzie v Fujifilm Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 000 064 433) (formerly Hanimex Pty Limited) [2006] NSWIRComm 74

Prosecutor: Inspector Angus Wake Mackenzie PARTIES: Defendant: Fujifilm Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 000 064 433) (formerly Hanimex Pty Limited)

FILE NUMBER(S): 4109 of 2003

CORAM: Backman J

CATCHWORDS: Occupational health and safety - plea of guilty to one offence under s 18(1)(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - persons at Wyong hospital become ill after exposure to chemical fumes from a product supplied by the defendant for the operation of an x-ray processing machine - whether the product was a hazardous substance under the Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulation 1996 - objective seriousness of the offence considered - foreseeable risk to safety - consequences - deterrence - maximum penalty - absence of prior convictions - remedial steps - plea of guilty - remorse and contrition - post accident measures - penalty - orders - costs.

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED: Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulation 1996

Anderson v The Queen (1993) 177 CLR 520 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Mayo-Ramsey) (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Maddaford v CSR Limited and Mulgoa Quarries [2004] NSWIRComm 337 CASES CITED: Reg v O'Neill (1979) 2 NSWLR 582 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; 115 A Crim R 104 Sharma (2002) 130 A Crim R 238 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 Winchester (1992) 50 A Crim R 345