Inspector Low v Watt t/as Aaron Watt Plumbing [2011] NSWIRComm 99

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Low v Watt t/as Aaron Watt Plumbing [2011] NSWIRComm 99 Hearing dates: 28 June 2011 Decision date: 27 July 2011 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Boland J, President Decision: (1) The defendant is found guilty of the offence charged under s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000. (2) The defendant is fined an amount of $25,000 with a moiety to the prosecutor. (3) The defendant shall pay the costs of the prosecutor as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - Prosecution under s 8(1) of Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - Fatality - Apprentice electrocuted whilst undertaking plumbing work - Plea of guilty - Objective and subjective factors - Capacity to pay - Whether s 10 of Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 should be applied - Victim impact statements - Penalty imposed - Costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Cases Cited: 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 and Coke Pty Ltd [1999] NSWIRComm 353; (1999) 92 IR 8 Inspector Elizabeth Benbow v Planada Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 275 Inspector Downie v Menzies Property Services Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 259; (2004) 136 IR 449 Inspector Hopkins v Wherrit t/as M J Wherrit Concrete Pumping Services [2002] NSWIRComm 16 Inspector Lancaster v M L Colturi Sawmills Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 47 Inspector Nikolovski v McCrudden (No 2) [2011] NSWIRComm 73 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) [1999] NSWIRComm 343; (1999) 90 IR 464 Morrison v Centennial Coal Company Ltd [2010] NSWIRComm 4 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No 3) [2005] NSWIRComm 61; (2005) 147 IR 117 WorkCover Authority of NSW v ACI Operations Pty Ltd [1994] NSWIRComm 167; [1994] NSWIRC 11 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Profab Industries Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 142; (2000) 100 IR 64 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Benbow) v Converquip Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 85; (2001) 106 IR 258 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Inspector Ian Low (Prosecutor) Aaron James Watt trading as Aaron Watt Plumbing (Defendant) Representation: Mr M Cahill of counsel (Prosecutor) Mr J Pearce of counsel (Defendant) WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Prosecutor) Hills Solicitors (Defendant) File Number(s): IRC 1117 of 2010