FD12 - Gymnasiums

Purpose

To establish guidance for the design, contents and suitability of a Gym at an Aquatic Facility.

Description

The owner or operator of an Aquatic Facility is responsible for ensuring that the gym is as safe as it possibly can be staff and clients.

Gyms within Aquatic Facilities have their own set of unique risks that are required to be assessed and managed. Failure to have an adequate risk management plan in place may lead to such things as:

• Noise-induced hearing loss (from repeated exposure to unchecked sound system volume)
• Communicable disease (from poorly cleaned exercise equipment)
• Poisoning (unfiltered water supply, out of date supplements)
• Penetrating wound of eye (frayed cable on weight machine)
• Bone fracture (slipping off a step in a group fitness class)
• Laceration (slipping on wet floor in changing room)
• Crushing (dropping a heavy weight on your foot)

Risk Assessment

Risk management should be applied in regards to the hazards specific to a Gymnasium. This should include the following:

Planning

Decide on those who will be involved in the risk management process and begin looking into the requirements of the Gym. This may include specific users groups, trainers and fitness instructors.

Hazard Identification

Hazards should be identified and regularly monitored and may include such things as:

1. Slips, Trips and Falls - The gym can be a very active place. It is easy for people to trip over objects left on the floor. People may also fall over equipment if there is not sufficient space for them to be able to move around freely. Examples may include:
   • Electrical cables across the floor
   • Weight plates, dumb bells left on the floor
   • Worn treads on steps and equipment
   • Tears in the carpet
   • Dislodged floor coverings
2. Ergonomic Hazards - Ergonomic hazards are associated with the way the body moves. Equipment that is not functioning properly or performing exercises incorrectly can be ergonomic hazards. Examples may include:
   • Incorrectly operating equipment
3. Hazardous Chemicals - Many chemicals can have adverse effects on the human body. They can be toxic or corrosive or inflammable. Although the fitness facility is not normally a place where you would expect to find dangerous substances, almost all workplaces have chemicals such as cleaners, solvents or even photocopier materials. Examples may include:
   • Cleaning fluids in the change rooms
   • Disinfectant used for cleaning equipment
4. Biological Hazards - Wherever humans get together there will always be the potential for passing on disease and infection. In a fitness facility, people handle equipment. There is the potential to pass infection from one person to another. Examples may include:
   • Nits from a person's hair on a weights bench
   • A viral infection in saliva on the surface of a weights bar
5. Physical - The equipment in a gym can be quite dangerous if it is not used and maintained correctly. A physical hazard is where an object can cause injury directly to a person. Examples may include:
   • No retaining collars on a bar bell may allow the weights to fall off
   • Pulleys that are not running freely may cause weights to get stuck or fall
   • Unguarded moving wheels may catch a person's fingers
6. Electrical - Many pieces of equipment in a fitness facility require electricity. There is a risk of a person receiving an electrical shock if there is a problem with the wiring. Examples may include:
   • Frayed cables on equipment
   • Broken electrical sockets and switches
7. Temperature and Light - Performing strenuous physical activities in hot conditions can cause heat stress. If the lighting is poor, clients may not notice other hazards. Examples may include:
   • Working at temperatures above 36 ºC
   • Globes or fluorescent tubes not working
8. Manual handling - Incorrect bending, reaching, stretching, pulling and lifting can cause musculoskeletal disorders

Risk Analysis and Risk Assessment

Assess how likely the risk is and the likely consequences if the hazards identified above do occur. Are there existing provisions in place that reduce the level of risk to an ‘as low as reasonably practicable level’.

In assessing the likelihood of gym injuries you should consider:

1. Levels of fitness and current state of health of personnel;
2. Skills, knowledge and experience in undertaking the activity;
3. Pre-training and warm-up activities;
4. Familiarity with the club gym and its facilities;
5. Use of proper clothing and footwear; and
6. The condition of the equipment being used.

Risk Control

There are many possible ways of reducing the risks associated with gymnasiums. In all cases the hierarchy of controls should be used to ensure the hazards are controlled to the lowest possible risk.

Using safe practices and equipment appropriately reduces the risk of injury. All gym users should be encouraged to follow the guidelines below:

• Stretching/warm up/cool down – inactive joints, tendons and muscles are more likely to get strained. Cool down activities should be done to prevent the blood pooling in the body
• Hydration – Remember, thirst does not indicate dehydration. Drink fluids before, during and after the activity
• Training – familiarise yourself and ensure you receive an induction of the equipment and surroundings. Know the correct techniques to minimise injury
• Injury management – treat all injuries promptly to prevent long term damage. Complete the injury log book
• Ensure safe gym surroundings – free weights that are used in a training session are to be returned to the appropriate rack, wipe down each piece of equipment after use with gym user’s towel, equipment to be cleaned with supplied cleaning fluid after each use

Supervision

If an Aquatic Facility has a gym for use by its members/visitors, an employee may be required to supervise the facilities. The gym supervisor should be responsible for:

• Monitoring gym use to check it is being used as per the gym code of conduct;
• Managing gym application forms;
• Acquiring gym equipment in good working order and ensuring its maintenance;
• Ensuring the gym and surroundings are regularly inspected; and
• Ensuring the gym users are receiving advice and information on appropriate exercise techniques.

Procedures for Gym Use

Before being permitted to use a gym, members/visitors should complete a gymnasium use form. The owner or operator of the Aquatic facility should also determine to supply additional information depending on age, known health problems, previous gymnasiums use, and recent fitness activity history particularly over the past twelve months.

Members and Visitors should have a:

• Written clearance from a medical practitioner stating they are fit to use the facilities; or
• Fitness assessment from an instructor with a recognised fitness qualification; or
• Written fitness program from a medical practitioner in the case of members using the gym for physical rehabilitation purposes

If a gym user knows that he or she may be at risk by participating in a particular activity, the user should inform the gym supervisor.

All gym users should complete the pre-activity questionnaire prior to using the gym.

Before being permitted to use the club gym, gym users should receive an induction on use of the gym by an instructor with a minimum qualification level of Certificate III in Fitness (or equivalent).

The gym sign in/sign out sheet should be signed prior to commencing your workout.

Induction

Induction to a gym should include:

1. Completion of the pre-activity questionnaire;
2. Tutorage on the safe usage of the equipment;
3. Orientation of the gymnasium and emergency procedures;
4. Completion of the Gym Induction Checklist; and
5. Instructions on hygiene and cleaning procedures

Signage

Signage should be placed around the gym to inform and remind users of the key safety rules. This may include such things as:

• Please ensure equipment is return to its storage location after use
• No Towel, No Gym
• Bags, Towels and Equipment is not to be left in walkways
• Gym Code of Conduct

Monitor and Review

Ways to monitor the incidence of gym injuries include:

• Keeping records of injuries and investigations;
• Review control measures; and
• Conduct regular checks of the gym with health and safety inspections and regular hazard checks

Document the Process

Records of work processes, incident reports, equipment and member/visitor inductions and activities should be documented and reviewed regularly.

Further Information

• Gymnasium Membership Application
• Gymnasium Code of Conduct
• Gymnasium Pre-activity Questionnaire
• Gymnasium Induction Form
• Gymnasium Induction Checklist

References

• New Zealand Institute of Health and Fitness – Club Guide Hazard Identification
• Association of Independent Schools of NSW – Workplace hazards in Fitness Centres, Gyms and Pools
• Surf Life Saving NSW Safer Surf Clubs 2015