If you run a 24/7 gym, CCTV and panic or duress alarms are likely to be among your most important after-hours safety controls.
And rightly so.
AUSactive's recommendations for unsupervised health and fitness facilities specifically identify electronic surveillance, monitored safety alerts and fixed and mobile panic alarms as risk-mitigation measures for facilities operating without staff present.
They help provide visibility when staff aren't there and give members a way to raise assistance if something goes wrong.
But they only address part of the 24/7 safety picture.
That broader issue came into focus after a serious weightlifting incident at a 24/7 gym on the Gold Coast in August 2026. In its coverage, ABC News spoke with FitSafe founder Selwyn Becker about the challenges of managing safety when members are training without staff present.
Selwyn pointed to CCTV and panic buttons as important controls, while also highlighting the need for proactive equipment maintenance and independent safety reviews.
The incident is a useful reminder that after-hours safety isn't just about having a way to see what's happening or raise an alarm. Operators also need to think about the wider environment around the member.
What other risks still need to be managed when nobody is on the gym floor?
For an overview of the wider WHS requirements, see our guide to 24/7 Gym Safety Requirements in Australia.
Why This Matters
During staffed hours, employees do a lot more than respond to emergencies.
They notice damaged equipment. They see when someone is using a machine incorrectly. They spot spills, blocked walkways or equipment that's been moved. They answer questions and remind members about safe behaviour.
When staff aren't there, those everyday observations disappear.
CCTV and monitored alarms help address part of that gap. They don't remove it completely.
CCTV and Panic Alarms Do an Important Job
CCTV can provide visibility across an otherwise unstaffed facility, support security and help identify what has happened if an incident occurs.
A monitored panic or duress alarm gives a member a direct way to seek assistance.
Those are valuable controls and should be treated that way.
But neither control, by itself, stops a damaged cable from remaining in use, keeps an emergency exit clear or makes sure a new member knows where the AED is located.
That's why a 24/7 safety system needs to extend beyond technology.
What They Don’t Cover
Member Communication Matters More After Hours
If there's no trainer or receptionist to ask, your members need to know how the gym works when they're on their own.
That includes knowing how to seek help, where key emergency equipment is located, how to report damaged equipment or a hazard and what they're expected to do in an emergency.
AUSactive's guidance for unsupervised facilities includes member induction, emergency procedures and safety information as part of the broader approach to managing after-hours risk.
Signage Has to Work Without Someone Explaining It
The same applies to signage.
During staffed hours, unclear information can often be overcome by asking someone.
At midnight, the sign may need to do the explaining.
Emergency contacts, exits, AED and first aid locations, facility rules and ways to raise assistance need to be easy to find and understand.
Again, this isn't about filling every wall with warnings. It's about making sure important information works in the environment where it's actually needed.
Layout and Equipment Still Matter
Technology doesn't compensate for problems in the physical gym.
Equipment can move. New machines get added. Training areas expand. Walkways become narrower. Visibility changes.
Equipment also needs to remain safe and properly maintained regardless of whether the gym is staffed.
That means operators still need to think about the physical environment, access, equipment condition and how easily problems are identified and dealt with.
A camera can show you a piece of equipment.
It doesn't tell you whether that equipment is safe.
Think About the Whole 24/7 System
If your gym has CCTV and monitored panic alarms, that's an important foundation.
The next step is looking beyond those individual controls.
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Do members know what to do?
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Is important safety information easy to find?
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Does the current layout support safe movement and emergency access?
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Are equipment problems being picked up?
Good 24/7 gym safety is about making sure those different controls work together.
🛠️ Not sure whether your facility has the right safety controls in place? Book a Gym Safety Audit to review how your facility manages risk during staffed and unstaffed hours.
