Inspector Alan Jones v Karimbla Construction Services Pty Ltd [2007] NSWIRComm 124

Industrial Court of New South Wales

CITATION: Inspector Alan Jones v Karimbla Construction Services Pty Ltd [2007] NSWIRComm 124

Prosecutor: Inspector Alan Jones PARTIES: Defendant: Karimbla Construction Services Pty Ltd

FILE NUMBER(S): IRC5521; IRC5522 of 2005

CORAM: Kavanagh J

CATCHWORDS: OH&S Act - s8(1) & s8(2) - Guilty pleas - accident at building site - crane overturned - no injury - corporate defendant subcontracted to crane company - failure of subcontractor to implement existing system for safe working - failure of subcontractor to ensure crane operating properly - defendant failed to ensure supervision of crane lift - principle of parity - previous judgment against crane company for breach - principle of totality - two charges - maximum penalty for each offence $550,000 - penalty imposed

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

Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of NSW (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Crown in Right of the State of NSW (Dept of Education and Training) v Keenan (2001) 105 IR 181 Haynes v James Glass and Aluminium Pty Limited (unreported, CT91/772-775, 20 May 1994) Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Ltd (1996) 82 IR 384 Inspector Green v Big River Timbers Pty Limited; Inspector Green v Big River Timbers (Veneer) Pty Limited [2006] NSWIRComm 279 CASES CITED: Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Markarian v R (2005) 215 ALR 213 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Holder; R v Johnston [1983] 3 NSWLR 245 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Robert William Regan v Anglo Coal (Kayuga Management) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWIRC 12