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ISSUE 19 | NOV 2014 |
17
Editor’s note:
Risk management company VRA Risk has
stated that when they are visiting and
surveying a gym, the following questions
are asked and information gathered
accordingly:
Do staff have the relevant fitness
qualifications?
Is there a medical or a fitness
assessment completed for new
members?
Are new members shown how to use all
of the gym’s equipment?
Do members “sign off” on the
equipment they have been shown how
to use?
Does the client have an effective
“Accident Book” or “Accident Reporting
System”?
In regards to points 2 and 3 in particular,
if a venue is lacking in these areas, a risk
recommendation as follows is made:
“As part of the introductory induction
process a health questionnaire needs to
be developed where a prospective new
member’s prior history of playing sport,
engaging in exercise and sporting injuries
sustained is recorded. The questionnaire
should identify any health issues such
as high blood pressure, and if there are
any doubts about the person’s ability
to commence a membership a doctor’s
medical clearance is required before the
membership can be granted.”
CONTACT VRA
Phone:
+61 (3) 8562 9160
Email:
info@vrarisk.com
Web:
vrarisk.com
Gyms and fitness centres failing to comply
Researchers have raised concerns at the high number of gyms and
fitness centres failing to comply with industry guidelines designed to
minimise the risk of injury when exercising.
Sports injury prevention researcher Caroline Finch, head of the
Centre for Healthy and Safe Sport at Federation University in Victoria,
Australia, said more than a third of fitness centres surveyed failed to
screen members to establish their pre-existing health issues.
This is despite a national screening system designed by Fitness
Australia and introduced in 2012 which, although voluntary, was
designed to lift industry standards.
Known as the Australian adult pre-exercise screening system, the
guidelines include assessing a gym member’s risk of cardiovascular
disease, metabolic or respiratory disease and getting clearance from
a health professional.
The results of the survey of more than 1100 people working in the
fitness industry - conducted by Professor Finch and colleagues from
Bond University, the University of South Australia, Sports Medicine
Australia and Fitness Australia - also found almost a quarter were
insufficiently aware of the guidelines.
‘’If you go to a gym where the people don’t know about the guidelines,
then you’re not going to get assessed before you start to exercise, and
they’re not going to tell you what’s safe for you,’’ Professor Finch said.
‘’Failing to follow these guidelines puts people at risk.’’
Editor’s note: