SafeWork NSW v Steggles Pty Ltd

In the case of SafeWork NSW v Steggles Pty Ltd, the dispute arose from a workplace incident where a worker at a poultry processing plant was severely injured. The worker had reattached a chicken to a conveyor line, and in doing so, his hand was caught by a blade on a hock cutter, resulting in the severing of his hand. SafeWork NSW prosecuted Steggles Pty Ltd, the company responsible for the plant, for breaches of work health and safety laws. The case was heard in the Local Court of New South Wales.

The court needed to determine whether Steggles Pty Ltd had breached its duty under the work health and safety legislation to ensure the health and safety of its workers. Specifically, it had to consider whether the company had failed to ensure that the risk of death or serious injury was minimised. The court also needed to decide on an appropriate penalty for the breach, taking into account the objective seriousness of the offence, the plea of guilty, and other mitigating and aggravating factors.

The court found Steggles Pty Ltd guilty, noting the severity of the injury and the clear breach of safety protocols. It considered the plea of guilty as a mitigating factor, reducing the fine by 20%. The court emphasised the importance of general and specific deterrence in setting the penalty, alongside the company's capacity to pay. As a result, the court ordered Steggles Pty Ltd to pay a fine of $160,000, with half of that amount to be paid to the prosecutor, and the remaining costs to be borne by the company.