A guide for Facility Managers to create a culture of safety in their fitness centre.

What are the hazards in gym facilities?

Safety hazards specific to gym and fitness facilities include:

• Risks of injuries and illness as a result of fitness training
• Harm caused by faulty or poorly maintained equipment
• Trip, slip and falls hazards
• Security risks and lone worker
• Risk of infections from unhygienic practices (i.e. sweat from gym equipment, poorly cleaned shower area etc.)
• Dealing with difficult clients

Risks of injuries and illness as a result of fitness training

There have been several Australian court cases where fitness organisations were held responsible for injuries suffered by clients as a result of training within their facilities. In one case, a Queensland charity has been fined $300,000 following the tragic death of a boy who was trapped by weightlifting equipment at one of its gyms¹. These cases highlight the complexities of gyms’ legal responsibilities to their members, particularly regarding equipment maintenance, instructions, and warnings.

All fitness facilities have a duty of care to ensure their premises and equipment are safe for members. This includes:

• Conducting a thorough evaluation of clients before designing their fitness program to pinpoint any risk factors that could lead to avoidable injuries
• Ensuring clients are trained, aware of the correct use of equipment and supervised
• Ensuring procedures are in place for inspection, maintenance and repair of equipment to prevent harm caused by faulty or poorly maintained equipment
• Making sure all new equipment purchased complies to standards and are safe to use

Security risks and lone worker

For gym facilities opening for 24 hours, various safety risks will arise if there is no supervision by staff outside of normal business hours. These include:

• Risk of injury – patrons are unsupervised and may get injured from unsafe use of equipment or performing an exercise incorrectly
• Medical emergencies – without staff, there may be no one to provide immediate help in case of injuries or health issues
• Security threats – unsupervised venues is a more likely target of vandalism, theft or other criminal activities directed at patrons
• Fire hazards – in the event of a fire or other emergencies, the absence of staff can delay evacuation and emergency response
• Damage – Equipment or facility damage is not reported promptly, which may lead to patrons using unsafe equipment

What do I need to do?

Under Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislations, gym employers are legally obligated to maintain the health and safety of their employees. While WHS legislations primarily emphasise staff safety, it also mandates that businesses need to ensure the safety of all people coming into contact with its operations. Therefore the processes required to protect employees also apply to clients, visitors and contractors.

A robust WHS Management System is indispensable in safeguarding staff and visitors from injury and illness, and it is crucial for every gym business have one in place.

The main components of a WHS system should include:

• A WHS Manual which is a handbook detailing how every aspect of safety in your specific workplace will be addressed
• A WHS Induction – an onboarding process where workers are provided with essential information about the hazards in their work environment and safety procedures for controlling risks
• Policies – principles or rules that guide decisions and actions within the business. Policies are designed to ensure consistency, compliance, and alignment with the organisation’s goals and values.
• Safe Work Instruction and procedures – are information to train workers on how to safely perform specific tasks or use specific equipment in their workplace
• Forms – such as a workplace inspection checklist which help workers to identify hazards in their work areas. Other types of forms, such as an incident log, incident investigations and surveys help to capture safety information to feedback to the business.

Proactive approach to safety

Rather than just responding to reported hazards or incidents, ensure you take a proactive approach to safety management. Identify potential risks within your business operations and ensure appropriate control measures are in place to minimise the likelihood of an incident occurring. By taking a proactive approach, you can manage situations effectively and have greater control over outcomes, thus ensuring the longevity of your business.

 

 

References

1. Queensland Government Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (2020), Non-for-profit charity fined $300,000 for youth fatality incident, https://www.owhsp.qld.gov.au/court-report/non-profit-charity-fined-300000-youth-fatality-incident, accessed on 12^th June 2025.