Inspector Karen Simpson v Wingruby Pty Ltd t-as Lithgow Tyre Service [2010] NSWIRComm 104

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Inspector Karen Simpson v Wingruby Pty Ltd t-as Lithgow Tyre Service [2010] NSWIRComm 104

PARTIES: Inspector Karen Simpson (Prosecutor) Wingruby Pty Ltd t/as Lithgow Tyre Service (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC644 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 - early guilty plea - fatal injury to trainee tyre fitter - failure to provide safe system of work for particular task - task not risk assessed - general training and instruction had been provided to youth but inadequate supervision of task - failure to recognise poor condition of tyre rims nuts and bolts - 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 - evidence of ongoing corporate commitment to safe working - victim impact statements received - penalty

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) 49 NSWLR 610 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 188 Inspector Glass v Foamex Polystyrene [2004] NSWIRComm 100 Inspector Mulder v GRD Minproc Ltd [2008] NSWIRComm 82 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 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) WorkCover Authority of NSW (Insp Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Barbosa) v Newstart 150 Pty Ltd t/a Style Wise Interiors [2002] NSWIRComm 64; (2002) 113 IR 78 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Maddaford) v Coleman [2004] NSWIRComm 317; (2004) 138 IR 21