1. Health, Safety and Welfare in
a Fitness Environment
© Central YMCA Qualifications (CYQ), 2010
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, reproduction of this resource for assisting course delivery is permissible for approved CYQ training providers
for INTERNAL USE only.

2. Health and Safety in a Fitness
Environment

3. Why is health and safety important

4. Health and Safety
• Keeping participants safe by minimising risk
• As an employee:
– To take reasonable care of themselves in the
workplace and to be mindful of the effects of
their acts and omissions
• The Employer
– To ensure so far as is reasonably practicable
the health, safety and welfare of all its
employees

5. The coach and facility owner Hi there, I’m professor
have to ensure that everyone is Farnsworth and I’m here to
aware, and abides by, relevant tell you about the rules and
regulations regulations in sport that you
should be aware of
It is also the
responsibility of these Any facility, large or small, is
people to get updated covered by the laws laid down
information on any by the Government.
changes that might
apply.

6. “So why bother?” I hear you ask?
Closure of sports ground / stadium
Breaking the law =
A bad reputation
A hefty fine
Imprisonment
Compensation payouts

7. An interesting thought I once had was
that some rules may exist by the
facility, but they aren’t necessarily a
law. They are there because that facility
thinks it will improve health and safety
For example a swimming pool.
How often do you hear, “no
running” or “no food and drink”?
Why is this?

8. Hillsborough
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca52fsOZjAU
• Identify the injury risk factors
• In what ways could these have been
minimised or prevented?

9. Health and Safety
• There are legal and regulatory requirements
for health and safety relevant to working in a
fitness environment:
– Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
– REPs Code of Ethical Practice
– CRB checks

10. So what are these rules then?
Health & Safety at
Work Act 1974
All employers have a duty of care to
ensure that a safe working environment
is provided, which is free from anything that
can cause harm, or cause a risk to health or life.

11. Employers’ responsibilities: to safeguard the health and
safety and welfare of the people who work for them.
If the Inspectors see the Act is not being enforced they can:
•Serve a prohibition notice, stopping an activity likely to cause
serious injury.
•Serve an improvement notice, requiring action to be taken to
remedy faults within a period of not less than 21 days.
•Prosecute any person contravening a statutory provision.

12. Minimise in the gym by:
• Completed detailed medical questionnaire and lifestyle
form
• Fill in informed consent form
• Check the training environment before every session
to ensure all equipment is working properly
• Ensure the trainer is qualified and insured against
personal injury
• Check client before every session to ensure client has
no injuries and are dressed properly
• Conduct full warm up and cool down

13. The Exercise and Fitness Code of Ethics
• Produced by an organisation called the Register of
Exercise Professionals (REPs)
• It ensures that we deal with our clients in an
appropriate manner and that we make their
safety our priority
• Covers 4 main areas…….
4)Rights
5)Relationships
6)Personal responsibilities
7)Professional standards

14. Principle 1 - Rights
• Promote the rights of every individual to
participate in exercise, and recognise that
people should be treated as individuals
• Not condone or allow to go unchallenged any
form of discrimination, nor to publicly criticise
in demeaning descriptions of others

15. Principle 2 - Relationships
• Develop a relationship with customers based
on openness, honesty, mutual trust and
respect
• Ensure that physical contact is appropriate
and necessary and is carried out with within
the recommended guidelines and with the
participant’s full consent and approval

16. Principle 3 – Personal responsibilities
• Demonstrate proper personal behaviour and
conduct at all times
• Project an image of health, cleanliness and
functional efficiency and display high standard
in use of language, manner, punctuality,
preparation and presentation

17. Principle 4 – Professional
standards
• Work towards attaining a high level of
competence through qualifications and a
commitment to ongoing training that ensures
safe and correct practice, which will maximise
benefits and minimise risks
• Promote the execution of safe and effective
practice and plan all sessions so that they
meet the needs of participants and are
progressive and appropriate

18. CRB checks
• It searches your details against criminal
records and other sources, including the
Police National Computer. The check may
reveal convictions, cautions, reprimands and
warnings.
• You, and your employer, will see the results of
your search. Whatever the results your
employer will decide whether they can still
employ you.

19. Health and Safety
Director of the company Overall responsibility
General Manager Ensuring policies and procedures are
adhered to
Duty Manager Ensuring policies and procedures are
adhered to
Likely to have responsibility in
absence of GM
First Aid Personnel Administering first aid
All Staff on Duty Ensuring policies and procedures
Health and Safety Officer Specific responsibility for health and
safety matters

20. Security
• Opening and closing
– Turning on machines, TVs etc.
• Monitoring entry and exit
– Ensuring there are no intruders
– e.g. tickets for certain sessions
• Fire and evacuation procedures
– Understanding their role in the procedures (simulations
will be carried out to practice these)
• Roll call procedures (recite names)
• Chemical spillage procedures
• Fire alarm testing

21. Key Health and Safety Documents
• First aid book
• Accident report forms
• Manufacturer’s guidelines on safe use and
maintenance of equipment