Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd v Watts [2005] NSWCA 191

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd v Watts [2005] NSWCA 191

HEARING DATE(S): 20 April 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 17 June 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Santow JA at 78; Young CJ in Eq at 79

DECISION: Appeal and cross appeal dismissed with costs.

CATCHWORDS: Workplace injury - rolling rocks off roadway - found unsafe system of work because no instruction on what rocks to remove manually and when to call for a loader - whether system of work required removal of rocks even if not blocking path of dump truck - whether plaintiff was rolling large rocks - whether contributory negligence - apportionment between "labour hire" employer and hirer of labour - whether plaintiff's costs also apportioned. D

Abalos v Australian Postal Commission (1990) 171 CLR 167; Bankstown Foundry Pty Ltd v Braistina (1986) 160 CLR 301; Bootle v Kettlewell (1993) Aust Torts Rep 81-250 Czatyrko v Edith Cowan University (2005) 79 ALJR 839; Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; Ghunaim v Bart [2004] NSWCA 28; CASES CITED: James Hardie v Wyong Shire Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 679; McLean v Tedman (1984) 155 CLR 306; Misiani v Welshpool Engineering Pty Ltd (in liq) [2003] WASC 263; Patten v Moffatt (No 5) [1999] NSWSC 1322; Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 529; Proctor & Gamble Pty Ltd v Australian Slatwall Industries Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 398. Van der Sluice v Display Craft Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA NSWCA 204;

Boral Resources (NSW) Pty Ltd - Appellant PARTIES: Frances Vicki Watts - First Respondent Waltron Pty Ltd t/as Staff Force - Second Respondent