Gym Safety and Your Responsibility
A Guide on Improving Gym Safety
Inspect and Maintain Equipment and Workout Space
Creating a Safe Space in the Pursuit of Health and Fitness
Protect Your Gym and Personal Trainers
In a study on injuries obtained in fitness facilities, 36.2% of cases were due to overexertion and 52.6% were due to general free weight activities. Gyms are great places to get in shape and meet people with different fitness goals, but it’s important to remember that there are potential risks involved while operating one.
In this article, we’ll talk about the importance of improving gym safety to reduce the likelihood of workout injuries. We’ll also provide options for protecting yourself and your establishment if a client takes legal action against you for their accident.
Gym Safety and Your Responsibility
For managers and staff, it’s a rewarding experience to operate a gym because you get to help people on their fitness journey. When your clients enjoy their workouts, build connections, and take pride in their transformations, it creates a welcoming and supportive environment for all.
As the manager or employee, it’s your duty to ensure that clients can exercise safely on your premises and have a fantastic overall experience.
A Guide to Improving Gym Safety
While a person might get minor aches and pains from physical activity, the gym should never pose a real danger to clients and staff. Accidents are preventable when everyone does their part. This guide will provide tips on better equipping your gym or fitness facility for safety concerns.
Conduct a Risk Assessment
The law requires gum owners and operators to conduct a periodic risk assessment. You don’t have to do it yourself, but enlist someone with the appropriate health and safety training.
A risk assessment involves the following steps:
1. Identify the hazards
Inspect all amenities and equipment by referring to the safety and maintenance information provided by the manufacturer. You should also examine the labels on cleaning supplies to check if any harmful substances are present. When your gym is both occupied and empty of patrons, observe if there are any activities or possible situations that could cause harm.
For instance, are the free weights and machines spaced far enough apart? Is there plenty of room for group classes? Are mats and other tools stored properly? It’s also ideal to ask your employees’ thoughts on things you might have missed.
2. Identify high-risk members
Before allowing new members to join the gym, have them answer a screening questionnaire or undergo an interview. This allows you to gain insight into their fitness level and gym know-how.
Beginners are usually more prone to harm since they are unfamiliar with correct equipment use and exercise execution. Elderly clients, pregnant women, and members with disabilities may also need more guidance than others.
3. Implement appropriate precautions
After identifying hazards and high-risk clients, the next step is to apply the necessary safety measures. Prioritize addressing the most significant and plausible risks. Some controls you could implement include adding warning signs and information labels on equipment. You can also assign highly trained staff to supervise areas. Providing anti-slip yoga mats and workout accessories can also help prevent injury.
4. Keep track of your findings and control measures
Gyms are legally required to document the results of their risk assessment and control measures implemented.
5. Reevaluate your risk assessment
Periodically review and update your risk assessment and control measures to ensure everything is still in order.
Common Gym Injuries
Accidents and injuries are part of potential hazards. To know how to prevent them, you must first know what they are and their causes.
People can hurt themselves in many ways when working out. Here are some examples:
- Muscle pull and strain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Joint dislocation
- Sprained ankle
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Shin splint
- Achilles tendonitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Back pain
Causes of Gym Injuries
Overexertion and Rushing Into a Workout
Clients may feel too eager to do intense workouts that their bodies and skills cannot handle. Doing too much too fast will only lead to injury.
Improper Use of Equipment
Equipment includes the type of clothes the client wears during a workout and the machines and free weights in the gym. Patrons must be required to dress appropriately and read information labels or ask a personal trainer for guidance when using machines they are unfamiliar with.
Poor Form and Technique
Improper form and technique could result in injury. Our body can only move, push, pull, and bend in specific ways and directions. Each exercise has a correct execution. A beginner should consult a personal trainer or watch tutorial videos online before performing specific exercises.
No Warmup or Cool-Down
Warming up prepares the body for whatever physical activity that the person is about to do. An injury may occur when the blood is not flowing optimally and the joints are not loose enough. Cooling down, however, normalizes the heart rate and reduces soreness. Without stretching or cooling down, the body might not recover properly and experience prolonged pain and discomfort.
Inspect and Maintain Equipment and Workout Space
Equipment
Ensure that your equipment, free weights, and amenities are in excellent condition. If a machine needs to be fixed, make sure that clients cannot use them by hanging signs or notices that inform them of the problem.
Flooring and Amenities
Research shows that trips and falls often happen in fitness facilities. Make sure that there is enough space to move and exercise freely. The layout of your gym must be easily navigable and provide access to emergency exits. Patrons must also practice the gym etiquette of returning free weights and mats to their proper places after every session. Fixtures and lockers should be maintained and secured as well.
Temperature
The temperature and ventilation in the gym must also be kept at an optimal level for utmost comfort. When the temperature is too high or too low, clients and staff may experience excessive fatigue and underperform.
Cleanliness
The gym must be regularly cleaned to prevent the spread of germs and viruses. Health protocols should be strictly enforced to reduce the risk of infection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hazardous Substances
Since gyms can become breeding grounds for microorganisms, thorough and regular cleaning is a must. However, some cleaning products may contain chemicals dangerous to one’s health. Your employees should be trained to handle and store cleaning supplies. Personal protective equipment must also be worn when cleaning.
Security
Security should not be overlooked. Surveillance cameras should be installed on the front desk and common areas to record untoward incidents. Strangers or non-members must not have access to your facility to ensure that only those who are authorized can enter and use the premises. You may also hire security personnel.
As the manager or employee, it’s your duty to ensure that clients can exercise safely on your premises and have a fantastic overall experience.
Train Your Staff
Hiring competent and knowledgeable staff is crucial to gym safety and minimizing the risk of injury.
Fitness Certification
Before hiring fitness instructors and personal trainers, they must be able to show relevant certification to prove their expertise in exercising and equipment use.
Emergency Response and Preparedness
Safety not only involves injury prevention but also the gym and employees’ preparedness in case of emergencies. Such situations include fire, earthquake, or security threats. Schedule a weekly fire alarm testing and establish a clear protocol for evacuation and assembly points.
First Aid
A complete and functional first aid kit must also be readily available. Every second counts, so staff should know how to administer first aid and immediately contact medical emergency responders properly. Such circumstances need to be handled with extreme care and professionalism.
Your response says a lot about your concern for the client in case of injury or accident. Quick, efficient, and compassionate action shows that you conduct business with the utmost integrity as you disprove any negligence claims if the client files a lawsuit and demands compensation.
Creating a Safe Space in the Pursuit of Health and Fitness
We understand that it can be challenging to run a gym daily while having to think about the safety of your clients. However, conforming to safety standards ensures that your business keeps going. We know that you cannot possibly anticipate every situation, but having protocols in place gives you, your employees, and your patrons’ peace of mind.
Protect Your Gym and Personal Trainers
Gyms, like any other commercial business, are responsible for taking the necessary measures to prevent accidents and injuries on their premises. Liability clauses are a standard part of every gym membership agreement. Clients must sign this agreement and accept accountability for their actions while using weights, equipment, and other amenities.
Unfortunately, there are times when a client may claim that the management or a personal trainer or fitness coach is at fault for an accident. They may say that there was negligence on your part. Whatever the accusation is, API Fitness provides insurance coverage to protect you and your business. We have various insurance plans available..
Talk to Us
API Fitness offers fitness trainer and personal trainer insurance and additional coverage for professions in other related industries. Tell our carrier claims team about your needs, and we’ll give you expert advice on the type of coverage you need to safeguard your career and finances from risks.
