An Adelaide gym and its director have agreed to pay more than $210,000 to invest in “safety initiatives” after allegedly exposing people to airborne asbestos during demolition works.

24 Power Fit Plympton Park director Chad Oldfield told The Advertiser the payment would neutralise about two years of the gym’s profit after he made an “unfortunate error” by not checking a wall for asbestos.

According to SafeWork SA, it had previously alleged Mr Oldfield had failed to comply with safety rules when renovating the gym between May and June in 2023, during which workers and others may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibres.

Last month, SafeWork SA said it had accepted a commitment from Mr Oldfield and the gym to invest $213,000 in “safety initiatives” instead of being prosecuted.

Mr Oldfield said he made the payment because it could have cost him about $200,000 in legal fees to fight the prosecution.

“I would rather just not have to worry about going to a court and trying to argue,” he said. “The idea of spending any time with a lawyer is like sticking f**king needles in my eyes.”

He said workers could have been exposed to asbestos unexpectedly found in mortar during the works, but the general public would not have been exposed because the area was sealed off.

“People in the industry say no one would have checked it knowingly,” Mr Oldfield said. “(But) I’m not expecting sympathy from the world – I could have done more.

“I’m in a situation where I can absorb that cost. Will it hurt? Absolutely. It’s a big number.

“It’s an unfortunate error that I paid a very hefty price on.”

Mr Oldfield committed to funding safety initiatives including a donation to an asbestos-related charity and the Australian Men’s Shed Association, producing a professional educational video on asbestos safety, and publishing educational material.

It was previously alleged 24 Power Fit and Mr Oldfield failed to adequately identify and manage asbestos risks during demolition work.

SafeWork SA director Glenn Farrell said the gym director had “acknowledged the alleged contravention and shown regret regarding the occurrence and the consequences”.

“Asbestos exposure can have devastating, lifelong consequences, and there is absolutely no excuse for failing to properly identify and manage this hazard,” he said.

No injuries were reported in connection with the alleged incident.