Colab Building Tech Pty Ltd, now in liquidation, has been convicted and fined $400,000 after a large section of structural steel framework collapsed at the Kew Recreational Centre redevelopment. Although the collapse occurred in October 2022, the prosecution of this case arises from failures that began much earlier during the fabrication and verification of imported steelwork.
This conviction serves as a reminder of the importance of strong quality assurance (QA) practices in construction, particularly when using imported structural steel.
Colab Building Tech were a facade contractor who provided design, engineering, and fabrication and assembly services. They were engaged by the principal contractor of the re-development of the Kew Recreational Centre to fabricate, supply and erect the structural steelwork for the project.
One of the key structural components—the GT1 truss—had been fabricated by a subcontractor in China. Colab Building Tech received a package of quality assurance documents relating the truss that should have confirmed that the welding complied with Australian structural requirements, that qualified welders had followed approved welding procedures, and that full-strength butt welds had been subjected to appropriate non-destructive testing, including both visual and ultrasonic inspections. Colab Building Tech failed to ensure they were properly reviewed and verified by a competent person before the steelwork was erected.
WorkSafe Victoria investigation revealed that the truss was not fabricated according to the engineering design drawings, meaning the structure posed a significant risk of serious injury or death had anyone been present. Further, the investigation identified that the collapse was due to the failure of the GT1 Truss which spanned 40 metres above the pool hall, with the cause of the collapse being poor quality welding of structural steel components manufactured by the China-based third party.
Colab Building Tech was charged under s.26 of the OHS Act for their failures to ensure that the welding works were carried out by suitably qualified welders, that a suitably competent person reviewed the QA documents for the fabrication of the GT1 Truss to verify the welds were appropriate category welds, and that the G1 Truss was subject to the necessary testing and inspection reports. These failures represent a significant departure from their duties under the Act.
WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin emphasized that the building remained at risk of structural failure for months, describing the absence of casualties as "pure luck." Had the collapse occurred during the day when workers were present it could have resulted in the serious injury and death of many workers.
This case highlights the dangers of inadequate oversight and lacking QA processes when importing steel products. Quality failures can arise from unsuitable manufacturing processes, incorrect steel composition, substitution of lower-grade materials or overseas acceptance criteria that fall short of Australian requirements. Without effective verification, these deficiencies may remain hidden until catastrophic failure occurs.
To mitigate these risks, duty holders must implement robust quality assurance systems. Recommended measures include obtaining Mill Test Certificates to maintain traceability, engaging independent third-party inspectors to verify shop welds and visual integrity, and conducting non-destructive and destructive testing according to an Inspection Test Plan (ITP). These plans should include hold points and witness points to ensure compliance throughout the design and fabrication process. Additionally, factory inspections at the overseas fabrication site are essential to verify that structural steelwork meets engineering specifications and Australian Standards.
WorkSafe reminds employers, principal contractors, subcontractors, and self-employed persons that they all have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 to ensure safety. Construction companies must prioritize safety of steelwork thorough inspections, qualified engineer involvement, and verifiable documentation to protect workers, occupants, and the public from the catastrophic consequences of structural failure. Further guidance can be found in WorkSafe’s publication Industry Standard: Safe erection of structural steel for buildings | WorkSafe Victoria.
The parallel charge against ADCO Group (reported previously by SafetyNet), which entered into an $850,000 enforceable undertaking, illustrates the shared safety responsibility across the supply chain.
In February 2025 the Sentencing Advisory Council released a report to the Victorian Government making 12 recommendations for reform regarding the sentencing of OHS offences in Victoria. This included significantly increasing maximum penalties for breaching OHS duties in line with community expectations. The Victorian Government is yet to provide a response to this report.
Read more: WorkSafe Victoria | $400,000 fine after Kew rec centre collapse