Perth: Concerns about gym safety have come to the forefront after a Perth bodybuilder was found unconscious in a gym shower, undetected for 15 hours. The incident has prompted calls for increased safety measures at 24-hour gyms, where staff may not always be present.

Giuliano Pirone, 33, was discovered by police in a gym bathroom with the shower still running late at night, after his mother, Daniela Pirone, raised the alarm. He had collapsed around 7 a.m. following his workout, yet no one noticed his absence or the fact that he had not left the gym.

“My son lay there alone for 15 hours, and nobody realized,” Daniela Pirone said in a recent interview. She expressed shock that the gym’s staff and members failed to notice her son’s prolonged absence, questioning whether routine checks of facilities like showers are adequately conducted.

Barrie Elvish, CEO of AusActive, the peak body for the exercise and active health sector, described the situation as "deeply distressing" and emphasized the importance of safety protocols in gyms. He mentioned that while 24-hour gyms are popular for their flexibility and affordability, they must implement reasonable measures to protect their members.

Elvish noted that AusActive encourages gyms to adhere to a voluntary code of practice that includes safety measures such as proper member induction processes, the availability of duress alarms, and defibrillators. However, he also pointed out the challenges faced by 24-hour gyms, which are often unstaffed during non-peak hours, making it difficult to monitor all areas effectively.

The incident has sparked debate about whether additional safety protocols should be introduced, such as monitoring members who enter and leave the gym. However, Elvish mentioned that most gyms do not currently have a system in place to track when patrons leave the premises.

In response to the incident, the gym management issued a statement expressing their deepest sympathies to Pirone’s family and reaffirming their commitment to maintaining a safe environment for all members.

Beth Rolton, a personal injury lawyer, explained that while gyms are unregulated, they are still subject to state workplace health and safety laws. She highlighted that gyms have a duty of care to ensure that their facilities do not pose unreasonable risks to their patrons. Although many gyms ask customers to sign waivers, Rolton emphasized that these waivers do not absolve gyms from responsibility in cases of negligence or reckless conduct.

Rolton stressed that gym operators must assess the foreseeable risks their customers may face and implement reasonable measures to mitigate them. “While it's impractical to eliminate all risks, gyms must take appropriate steps to address foreseeable hazards,” she said.

As the investigation into this incident continues, the Pirone family, along with safety advocates, are urging gyms to review their safety practices to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.