Inspector Regan v Pybar Mining Services Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 123

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Regan v Pybar Mining Services Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 123 Hearing dates: 4 November 2009, 19 November 2009, 20 July 2011 Decision date: 12 September 2011 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Staff J Decision: 1. The offence is proven and a verdict of guilty is entered. 2. The defendant is convicted of the offence, as charged. 3. The defendant is fined an amount of $120,000 with a moiety thereof to the prosecutor. 4. The defendant shall pay the prosecutor's costs of the proceedings in an amount as agreed, or if agreement cannot be reached, as assessed. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - mining industry - drill rig feedrail assembly rolled when overcentre valve removed - employee injured resulting in paraplegia - objective seriousness - tort of negligence - relevance to Occupational Health and Safety Act - mitigating factors considered - maximum penalty - first offence - foreseeability - simple remedial measures - subjective features - steps taken after incident - contrition - assistance to injured worker and his family - co-operation - discount for plea - penalty imposed - costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Cases Cited: Cameron v The Queen [2002] HCA 6; (2002) 209 CLR 339 Capral Aluminium Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610; (2000) 99 IR 29 Commissioner of Main Roads v Jones [2005] HCA 27; (2005) 215 ALR 418; (2005) 79 ALJR 1104 Corinthian Industries (Sydney) Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wilson) (2000) 99 IR 159 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Dunlop Rubber Australia Ltd v Buckley (1952) 87 CLR 313 Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 Inspector Sharpin v A Team Concrete (Aust) Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 182 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 Maddaford v CSR Limited and Mulgoa Quarries Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 337 Morrison v Coal Operations Australia Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWIRComm 96; (2005) 141 IR 465 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 416; (2003) 130 IR 364 Morrison v Pybar Mining Services Pty Limited [2011] NSWIRComm 1 R v Gorman [2002] NSWCCA 516; (2002) 137 A Crim R 326 R v S Y & Anor [2003] NSWCCA 291 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Regan v King [2011] NSWIRComm 105 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 31; (2001) 103 IR 143 Rodney Morrison v Wambo Coal Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 189 Thompson v Woolworths (Qld) Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 19; (2005) 221 CLR 234; (2005) 214 ALR 452; (2005) 79 ALJR 904 Van Der Sluice v Display Craft Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 204 Woods v R [2008] NSWCCA 83; (2008) 184 A Crim R 108 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales v Kirk Group Holdings Pty Limited [2005] NSWIRComm 1; (2005) 137 IR 462 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Twynam-Perkins) v Maine Lighting Pty Limited (1995) 100 IR 248 at 257 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Twynam-Perkins) v Mayne Lighting Pty Limited (1995) 100 IR 247 Texts Cited: 1981 Parliament of New South Wales, Report of Commission of Inquiry Into Occupational Health and Safety (3 June 1981) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert William Regan (Prosecutor) Pybar Mining Services Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel Mr D O'Neil of counsel (Prosecutor) Mr M Shume of counsel Mr GJ Hatcher SC with Mr SR Coleman of counsel (Defendant) Solicitors Crown Solicitor's Office (Prosecutor) G J Boyd solicitors (Defendant) File Number(s): IRC 1920 of 2008