Inspector Cooper v Ward [2013] NSWIRComm 95

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Inspector Cooper v Ward [2013] NSWIRComm 95 Hearing dates: 27 September 2013 Decision date: 31 October 2013 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 $6500 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 - prosecution under s 8(1) and s 26(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 - boatbuilding industry - employees exposed by skin contact or inhalation to chemicals - fatality - general deterrence - specific deterrence - steps taken to reduce or eliminate risks - subjective factors - good corporate citizenship - no prior conviction - plea of guilty - penalty - costs Legislation Cited: Corinthian Industries (Sydney) Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Wilson) [2000] NSWIRComm 46; (2000) 99 IR 159 Inspector Dall v Ullrich [2012] NSWIRComm 87 Inspector Kent v Duct Master Pty Ltd [2009] NSWIRComm 143 Inspector Mason v Graham Allen Chapman & anor [2013] NSWIRComm 71 Inspector Yeung v Howie Herring & Forsyth Pty Limited & Anor [2005] NSWIRComm 266 Morrison v Coal Operations Australia Ltd (No 2) [2005] NSWIRComm 96; (2005) 141 IR 465 Page v Walco Hoist Rentals Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] NSWIRComm 39; (2000) 99 IR 163 Workcover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ankucic) v The Crown in the Right of the State of New South Wales (National Parks and Wildlife Service) [2003] NSWIRComm 170 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Twynam-Perkins) v Maine Lighting Pty Ltd (1995) 100 IR 248 Riley v Australian Grader Hire Pty Ltd; WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Downie) v Menzies Property Services Pty Limited (2004) 136 IR 449 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 T and M Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd and Anor v WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Sequeira) (2006) 151 IR 130 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Egan) v Atco Controls Pty Limited (1998) 82 IR 80 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Childs) v Kirk Group Holdings Pty Limited and Anor [2004] NSWIRComm 207 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Hopkins) v Profab Industries Pty Ltd (2000) 100 IR 64; (2000) 49 NSWLR 700 WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mulder) v Arbor Products International (Australia) Pty Ltd (2001) 105 IR 81 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Shaw) v Du Pont (Australia) Pty Ltd (2006) 152 IR 68 Cases Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Inspector Stephen Cooper (Prosecutor) Richard Geoffrey Ward (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Cahill (Prosecutor) Mr PM Skinner (Defendant) Solicitors: WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Prosecutor) Gillis Delaney Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): IRC 913 of 2010