Well known organisations that are convicted for work health and safety offences may face higher fines, following a recent decision of the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal.
Tho Services Limited pleaded guilty to three breaches of section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), after a work experience student sustained permanent eye damage while performing welding tasks without wearing appropriate eye protection.
The New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal fined Tho Services $240,000. In doing so, it overturned an earlier decision of the New South Wales District Court, that Tho Services only be required to pay $28,000 for the prosecution’s costs.