The best way to establish a risk management system for health clubs is to keep keep it simple — club policies and procedures not only have to be consistent, they have to be easy to implement. With just a little bit of effort health club owners and managers can create an atmosphere that promotes a safe workout environment and improves customer service.
Start with Education
The more you and your staff learn about safety the less likely it is that you will experience a liability insurance claim. The most obvious starting point is with CPR and First Aid Training. The American Heart Association has recommended Hands-Only CPR for adults since 2008 and reports that effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. A study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes showed that people who view a CPR instructional video are significantly more likely to attempt life-saving resuscitation. Hands-Only CPR training and a training video available for staff are simple, doable steps to implement into a club’s employee training program. Every club should have at lease one person on the premises, at all times, who is trained in CPR and First Aid.
Many clubs now have an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) on the premises as well. In August of 2013 The Huffington Post reported on findings in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology which showed that the chances of survival are higher if you experience sudden cardiac arrest at a traditional exercise facility, likely because of high numbers of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on site. AED training is often part of traditional CPR and First Aid training. Getting everyone on your staff trained is simple– it is the maintenance that will require extra attention. The large turnover in the health club industry may mean offering a training every few months.
Clients and Staff Need Regular Training
Once you’ve trained your staff, focus on training your clients. As part of the sales tour, offer every new potential member an orientation. A complete orientation would include how to use any and all exercise apparatus available at the club. Working with new members on every machine may not be practical but it is important that this training is available for every machine during orientation. Later on, if a member hurts themselves on your cable crossover unit, they would be hard pressed to accuse you or your staff of not showing them how to properly use the device.
A member educational program will only be beneficial if you and your sales staff consistently offer orientation. Some clubs have monthly “new member orientation” sessions posted on the bulletin board or noted in their newsletter. This process not only promotes a more educated member, it is a reflection of the club’s commitment to customer service.
Simple educational programs like quarterly CPR training and frequent new member orientation will require small efforts of organization from owners and managers but will effectively suit-proof your club.
