Design Reviews Matter
When a spectator-roof collapsed during a community football club redevelopment, two workers were lucky to escape with only minor injuries. The incident led to a landmark case in South Australia — the first successful prosecution of its kind — and put a spotlight on the crucial role of safe design, review, and compliance in construction projects.
The case showed that even small oversights — in this instance, the specification of base-plate anchor bolts — can have serious real-world consequences. More importantly, it reinforced that engineers, designers, and certifiers all share a legal duty to get it right.
In our latest article, we explore the key lessons for the engineering and construction community, including:
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Why design responsibility is more than a technical obligation
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How robust review and certification processes can prevent failures
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The importance of documentation and clear audit trails
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How time pressures and project schedules can create hidden risks
This isn’t about pointing fingers — it’s about learning from a real-world case so that we can all raise the bar on safety and compliance.
