Inspector Lancaster v M L Colturi Sawmills Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 47

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Lancaster v M L Colturi Sawmills Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 47 Hearing dates: 6 April 2011 Decision date: 15 April 2011 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Boland P Decision: Matter No IRC 639 of 2010 (1) The defendant is found guilty of the offence charged under s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 and is convicted of the offence. (2) The defendant is fined an amount of $220,000 with a moiety to the prosecutor. Matter No IRC 640 of 2010 (1) The defendant is found guilty of the offence charged under s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 by operation of s 26(1) of that Act and is convicted of the offence. (2) The defendant is fined an amount of $22,000 with a moiety to the prosecutor. The defendants shall jointly and severally pay the costs of the prosecutor as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Forestry industry - Fatality - Employee crushed by logging machine - Prosecution under s 8(1) of Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 of corporate defendant and prosecution of sole director under s 8(1) by virtue of s 26 of Occupational Health and Safety Act - Guilty pleas - Sentencing - Consideration of objective and subjective factors - High range of seriousness - Small employer - Capacity to pay - Victim impact statement - Penalties imposed Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act1999 Evidence Act 1995 Fines Act 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Cases Cited: Bollen v R (1998) 99 A Crim R 510 Cahill v State of New South Wales (Department of Community Services) (No 3) [2008] NSWIRComm 123; (2008) 182 IR 124 Cahill v State of New South Wales (Department of Community Services) (No 4) [2008] NSWIRComm 201; (2008) 182 IR 231 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (McKensey) v Kembla Coal & Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 at 27 Environment Protection Authority (EPA) v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Inspector Elizabeth Benbow v Planada Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 275 Inspector Franke v Vin Heffernan Pty Ltd [2005] NSWIRComm 16 Inspector Lancaster v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2009] NSWIRComm 192 Inspector Schultz v Leonard J Williams (Timber) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 286 Inspector Wolf v Colebrook & Sons Pty Ltd [2008] NSWIRComm 231 Inspector Wolf v The Forestry Commission of NSW t-as Forests NSW [2008] NSWIRComm 230 Inspector Yeung v Wilson trading as Wilson's Tree Service [2004] NSWIRComm 346 McColl v John Watson Building Services Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 353; (2004) 137 IR 310 Morrison v Centennial Coal Co Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 4 R v Dang [1999] NSWCCA 42 R v Mansour [1999] NSWCCA 180 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Thomas [2007] NSWCCA 269 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 31; (2001) 103 IR 143 SBF v R [2009] NSWCCA 231; (2009) 198 A Crim R 219 Wilmot v R [2007] NSWCCA 30; (2007) 169 A Crim R 280 WorkCover Authority of NSW v ACI Operations Pty Ltd [1994] NSWIRComm 167 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v Lyndhurst Trading Co Pty Ltd (2000) 95 IR 462 Workcover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Farrell) v Schrader [2002] NSWIRComm 25; (2002) 112 IR 284 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Maddaford) v Coleman [2004] NSWIRComm 317; (2004) 138 IR 21 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mansell) v Chen [2004] NSWIRComm 247; (2004) 137 IR 33 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Webster) v Power Rise Pty Limited [2008] NSWIRComm 26 WorkCover Authority (Inspector Yeung) v Wilson (t/as Wilson's Tree Service) [2005] NSWIRComm 158; (2005) 143 IR 187 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Inspector Ian Lancaster (Prosecutor) M L Colturi Sawmills Pty Ltd (Defendant in Matter IRC 639 of 2010) Maurice Louis Colturi (Defendant in Matter IRC 640 of 2010) Representation: D B O'Neil of counsel (Prosecutor) J P Phillips SC (Defendants) WorkCover Authority of NSW (Prosecutor) Gleeson & Co., Solicitors (Defendants) File Number(s): IRC 639 of 2010 IRC 640 of 2010