Hi lovelies,

When you’re learning to run a gym, you don’t want to think about what can go wrong. However, if you fail to consider the very likely possibility that, at some point, someone is going to hurt themselves (or maybe someone else) while training, you could be making any potential accidents much worse. Here’s how to make sure that you’re aware of the risks and doing what you can to manage them.

Ensure safe gym usage as best as possible
Wiping down equipment and making sure that it’s stable and ready to use is important. Similarly, you should deploy safety signage throughout the gym ensuring that people use workout areas and equipment as safely as possible, demonstrating proper form or any hazards that they should be aware of. You can’t ensure that everyone acts as properly and wisely as they should, but you can reduce the likelihood of some accidents by ensuring everyone is informed and aware of the risks.

Actively correct misuse of machines
People are going to use machines wrong, no matter how many signs you have. As such, you should make sure that all of your floor staff is aware of how every machine on the floor is to be operated. They should be able to pinpoint misuse and correct customers to ensure they’re not more likely to hurt themselves.

Keep a fully stocked first-aid area
If someone does get hurt in the gym, then you should be ready and able to help as best as possible. This means making sure that you have a first aid section or even just a first aid kit that is fully stocked with things like wound dressing equipment, bandages, ice packs, scissors to cut through fabric if necessary, gloves, and so on. Otherwise, you could be hampering your ability to help those who get injured.

Ensure your team is trained in first aid
Most people can clean a wound and apply some dressing, but it’s a good idea to make sure that you or members of your team are trained in first aid so that you’re able to calmly and systematically handle any injuries that do happen on your property. Even knowing the difference of when you can and can’t move someone who has been injured can be critically important for their outcomes.

Protect your business, too
The best outcome is that you prevent injuries or are able to treat them and mitigate any long-term damage. However, if accidents do happen, you have to make sure that your gym is protected. CCTV can help ensure that you capture footage of any accidents so that you don’t have to accept liability if it’s the gym-goer’s fault. However, you should also have the correct insurance to protect you against the costs of injuries on your property that are your liability.

Fitness is physically strenuous and gym equipment can be potentially dangerous. Don’t bury your head in the sand. Make sure that you’re well equipped, trained, and prepared to handle accidents that might happen in your gym.