Calls to strengthen safety after Gold Coast gym incident
A man in his 50s suffered life-threatening neck injuries in an incident involving weightlifting equipment at a gym in the Broadbeach area of Australia’s Gold Coast. Paramedics took him to Gold Coast University Hospital, where his condition later stabilized, ABC News Australia reports.
Paramedics were called to the gym at about 8:00 a.m. on Friday. Queensland’s workplace health and safety authority said it was not investigating the incident. The gym was approached for comment.
Calls to install safety racks
Griffith University sports scientist Phil Bellinger called for safety racks to be made mandatory for equipment designed for barbell exercises. Such racks allow adjustable bars to be set at different heights so they can catch the barbell if a person fails to complete a lift.
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According to Bellinger, risks increase when gym visitors raise their workload too quickly or choose a weight that is too heavy for them. He also believes that using a training partner or spotter can improve safety. In his view, gyms should assess clients’ fitness levels more carefully and teach them how to use equipment safely, especially given the spread of 24-hour facilities without staff during certain hours.
Concerns over unstaffed gyms
FitSafe Australia founder Selwyn Becker, who has conducted gym audits across the country for more than 30 years, noted that CCTV cameras and panic buttons can help during unstaffed hours, but these measures are insufficient. He advocated for the return of a permanent instructor presence in the training area.
Becker does not recommend performing bench presses without a training partner, as the barbell can fall onto the chest or neck. He also called on gyms to service equipment regularly and conduct independent safety inspections.
