Inspector Middleton v Cafe C Pty Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm 131

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Middleton v Cafe C Pty Ltd [2012] NSWIRComm 131 Hearing dates: 23 August 2012 Decision date: 27 November 2012 Jurisdiction: Industrial Court of NSW Before: Walton J, Vice-President Decision: 1. The defendant is convicted of the offence as charged. 2. The defendant is fined the sum of $100,000 with a moiety to the prosecutor. 3. The Court further orders that the defendant shall pay the costs of the prosecutor for these proceedings as agreed or, in default, as assessed. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY - prosecution under s 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - defendant a corporation - operated cafe business - risk of injury to employees from coming into contact with electricity flowing from damaged cable - grease trap utilised at premises - square cavity under floor in kitchen known as the wet well - entrance to wet well covered by metallic plate - electrical pump housed in wet well for purpose of pumping waste water - cable of pump traversed kitchen floor to power outlet - cable became wedged between edge of wet well and cover plate - cable compressed and damaged - live conductor exposed - grease trap overflowed - surplus water on floor of kitchen - contact between live conductor and metallic cover plate and/or water on floor of kitchen - one worker electrocuted - one worker suffered electric shock - plea of guilty - sentencing - objective factors - maximum penalty - risk was foreseeable - systems in place prior to incident inadequate - simple remedial measures available - general and specific deterrence - culpability of defendant - contribution of third parties - responsibility of defendant to determine what services to engage and ensure services performed adequately - mitigating factors - offence serious - subjective factors - remorse and contrition - co-operation with the prosecutor - discount for plea - first offence - consideration of financial means of defendant - no claim for impecuniosity - defendant small family business - sole director - financial records show modest profits and assets - reduction in penalty by virtue of mitigating and subjective factors - penalty imposed - moiety - costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Fines Act 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 Cases Cited: Alcatel Australia Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Clyant) (1996) 70 IR 99 Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2000] NSWIRComm 71; (2000) 49 NSWLR 610; (2000) 99 IR 29 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (Chief Inspector Terrey) v A M Hoipo & Sons Pty Ltd [2000] NSWIRComm 16; (2000) 99 IR 137 Department of Mineral Resources of NSW (McKensey) v Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd (1999) 92 IR 8 Environment Protection Authority v Capdate Pty Limited and Phillips (1993) 78 LGERA 349 Ferguson v Nelmac Pty Limited (1999) 92 IR 188 Haynes v CI & D Manufacturing Pty Ltd (No 2) (1995) 60 IR 455 Inspector Barnard v Rail Infrastructure Corporation (No 2) [2002] NSWIRComm 107; (2001) 109 IR 209 Inspector Christensen v Hebron Holdings Pty Ltd (formerly known as Taylor Railtrack Pty Limited) [2012] NSWIRComm 31 Inspector Dall v Ullrich [2012] NSWIRComm 87 Inspector Fraser v Karabelas (No 2) [2011] NSWIRComm Inspector Glass v Foamex Polystyrene Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 100 Inspector Howard v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 92; (2009) 186 IR 125 Inspector Jose Barbosa v Newstart 150 Pty Ltd t/as Style Wise Interiors [2002] NSWIRComm 64 Inspector Lai v Rexma Pty Ltd and Another [2008] NSWIRComm 78; (2008) 172 IR 210 Inspector Lancaster v M L Colturi Sawmills Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 47 Inspector Nicholson v Gallagher [2012] NSWIRComm 121 Inspector Patton v Western Freight Management Pty Ltd (No 2) [2009] NSWIRComm 124 Inspector Spence v Aleksic Carpentry Pty Ltd & Anor [2012] NSWIRComm 45 Inspector Stephen Cooper v Rail Infrastructure Corporation [2008] NSWIRComm 92 Inspector Williams v H P Woods (Holding) Pty Ltd [2011] NSWIRComm 114 JT & LC Tippett Pty Limited and RD & LF Tippett Pty Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales [2008] NSWIRComm 177; (2008) 184 IR 1 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (1999) 90 IR 464 Maddaford v CSR Limited and Mulgoa Quarries Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 337 Manpac Industries Pty Ltd (formerly t/as Pacific Concrete & Quarries Pty Ltd) v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Glass) [2001] NSWIRComm 190; (2001) 106 IR 435 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357; (2005) 79 ALJR 1048; (2005) 215 ALR 213 McColl v John Watson Building Services Pty Ltd and Dowdon Contracting Pty Ltd [2004] NSWIRComm 353; (2004) 137 IR 310 Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd & Anor. (No. 3) [2005] NSWIRComm 61; (2005) 147 IR 117 Page v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm 39; (2000) 99 IR 163 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102; (2009) 195 A Crim R 1 R v Previtera (1997) 94 A Crim R 76 R v Rushby (1997) 1 NSWLR 594 R v Reader (Brian Henry) (1988) 10 Cr App R(S) 210 Rahme v R (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 Retsos v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 85 Rodney Morrison v Powercoal Pty Ltd [2003] NSWIRComm 416; (2003) 130 IR 364 Simpson Design Associates Pty Ltd v Ching [2011] NSWIRComm 7; (2011) 205 IR 40 WorkCover Authority of NSW v Atco Pty Ltd (1998) 82 IR 50 WorkCover Authority (NSW) v Hydraulics Hot Line Pty Ltd (1998) IR 39 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Jones) v Challita [2006] NSWIRComm 207; (2006) 153 IR 409 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Kelsey) v University of Sydney (unreported, Industrial Relations Commission, NSW, Matter No. CT 1280 of 1995, Hill J, 2 April 1997)