Regan v Endeavour Coal Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 141

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Regan v Endeavour Coal Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 141 Hearing dates: 28 - 29 September 2011 Decision date: 28 October 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 $65,000 with a moiety thereof to the prosecutor. 4. The defendant shall pay the prosecutor's costs of the proceedings in an amount agreed, or if agreement cannot be reached, leave is granted to either party to approach the Court for final orders as to costs. In addition, the defendant shall pay the sum of $3000 representing the costs arising from the investigation of the offence. 5. Each party shall pay its own costs of the notice of motion filed by the defendant. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - section 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - mining industry - collapse of scaffold - non-employee injured - objective seriousness - respective role and culpability of defendant and other entities operating at the mine considered - subjective considerations - victim impact statement - 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 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 Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 Inspector Olive v Transfield Pty Limited [2001] NSWIRComm 295 Inspector Regan v Delta Mining Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 107 Inspector Sharpin v A Team Concrete (Aust) Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 182 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 Postiglione v R (1997) 189 CLR 295 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Shannon v Comalco Aluminium Limited (1986) 19 IR 358 Woods v R [2008] NSWCCA 83; (2008) 184 A Crim R 108 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert William Regan (Prosecutor) Endeavour Coal Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Strickland SC with Mr D O'Neil of counsel (Prosecutor) Ms P McDonald SC (Defendant) Solicitors: Crown Solicitor's Office (Prosecutor) Sparke Helmore (Defendant) File Number(s): IRC 1035 of 2008