Inspector Dall v Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 156

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Dall v Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 156 Hearing dates: 14 October 2011 Decision date: 25 November 2011 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Boland J, President Decision: Matter No IRC 689 of 2010 (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 $350,000 with a moiety to the prosecutor. (3) The defendant shall pay the costs of the prosecutor as agreed or assessed. Matter No IRC 690 of 2010 (1) The defendant is found guilty of the offence charged under s 8(2) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000. (2) The defendant is fined an amount of $250,000 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 - Prosecutions under ss 8(1) and 8(2) of Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - Guilty plea - Sentencing - Death of worker - Second worker placed at risk - In 2007 worker crushed by falling cases of aluminium product stored on warehouse racks - In 1996 a stack of unrestrained cases of aluminium extrusions at the defendant's warehouse collapsed, striking and fatally injuring an employee of the defendant - Objective and subjective considerations - Totality - Victim impact statement - Penalties imposed - Costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Industrial Relations Act 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 Cases Cited: Cahill v State of NSW (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 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Limited (1996) 82 IR 384 Inspector Elizabeth Benbow v Planada Holdings Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 275 Inspector Hinton v Waterway Constructions Maintenance Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 132 Inspector Lancaster v M L Colturi Sawmills Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 47 Inspector Kent v Duct Master Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 143 Inspector Williams v H P Woods (Holding) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 114 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 205 ALR 346 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd (No 3) [2005] NSWIRComm 61; (2005) 147 IR 117 Postiglione v The Queen [1997] HCA 26; (1997) 189 CLR 295 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 31; (2001) 103 IR 143 WorkCover Authority of NSW v ACI Operations Pty Ltd [1994] NSWIRComm 167 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Insp Ch'ng) v Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd t/as Ullrich Noyes Metals [1998] NSWIRComm 668 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mulder) v Arbor Products International (Australia) Pty Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 50; (2001) 105 IR 81 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Twynam-Perkins) v Maine Lighting Pty Ltd (1995) 100 IR 248 Texts Cited: Principles of Sentencing (2nd ed, 1979), DA Thomas Category: Principal judgment Parties: Inspector Michael Dall (Prosecutor) Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Mr M Cahill of counsel (Prosecutor) Mr P Ginters of counsel (Defendant) WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Prosecutor) Moray & Agnew, Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): IRC 689 of 2010 IRC 690 of 2010