As part of general health and safety duties, fitness instructors are required to conduct a number of health and safety checks. Three routine checks will be discussed here:

1. Cleanliness and Hygiene (C&H)

2. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

3. Risk Assessment (RA)

Cleanliness and Hygiene

Standards for cleanliness and hygiene in a fitness environment include daily, weekly and monthly facility checklists:

• Daily Facility Checklist:

  • Clearing any rubbish and keeping the facility generally fresh and tidy.

    • Emptying rubbish bins.

    • Hoovering or mopping the floors.

    • Checking for any lost property.

    • Attending to any spillages of water or sports drinks.

    • Checking that windows are open/closed as appropriate.

  • Checking that all equipment is clean and in working order.

    • Cleaning cardiorespiratory machine casings.

    • Cleaning fixed resistance machine casings, seats and handles.

    • Cleaning free weight equipment and other portable equipment.

    • Cleaning workout benches.

    • Cleaning exercise mats.

    • Cleaning equipment for member consultations and assessments.

    • Checking stock of First Aid equipment.

    • Cleaning water fountains.

  • Checking that bathrooms are clean and in working order.

  • Checking that all electronic equipment is in working order.

    • Lights/Music

    • TV/CCTV

    • Fans/Heaters

    • Exercise machines, e.g. Treadmill.

• Weekly Facility Checklist:

  • Running a Formal Risk Assessment.

    • Test the alarms.

    • Inspect the fire extinguishers.

    • Check oil on all exercise machines.

    • Remove any damaged equipment.

  • Deep clean of the training area and bathrooms.

• Monthly Facility Checklist:

  • Checking the facility and all equipment for any damage.

    • Exercise machines.

    • Plugs and sockets.

    • Check free weights and other loose equipment.

    • Remove or replace any damaged equipment.

  • Checking stock of First Aid equipment.

  • Cleaning the air conditioning units.

  • Deep clean of the whole facility.

Also, fitness professionals and clients should maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene to provide a safe and pleasant training environment for everybody. For example:

• Wearing clean workout shoes and clothing.

• Using deodorant prior to a workout.

• Bringing a sweat towel for each workout.

• Cleaning sweat away from equipment after use.

• Returning all equipment, such as free weights, to its original storage position after use.

• Cleaning and replacing workout mats after use.

• Preventing spillages by ensuring drink bottles have sealed lids.

• Not bringing food into the workout area.

• Not bringing loose objects, such as keys, into the workout area.

This summarises the general health and safety checks for a fitness environment.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

Cleaning products for workout equipment may involve hazardous substances that may cause harm in the form of irritation, burns, blindness, sickness or vomiting. COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health, such as:

• Chemicals or products containing chemicals

• Fumes, Dusts, Vapours or Mists

• Antibacterial soaps / sprays (benches / mats)

• Disinfectants (surfaces)

• Air fresheners (plug-in or diffuser)

• Chlorine (pools)

• Washing up liquid (kitchen)

• Bleach (floors, toilets, surfaces)

• Toilet cleaner (toilets)

• Ceramic cleaner or grout cleaner (tiled areas e.g. showers)

Risk assessments in fitness environments are undertaken by health and safety representatives. Fitness professionals should be aware of risk assessment if they are to use any substances whilst undertaking cleaning duties, including the practical actions taken to protect people from harm.

When undertaking cleaning duties, the fitness professional should consider the appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which employers are responsible for providing, replacing and paying for. Types of PPE include:

• Respirators

• Protective gloves

• Protective clothing

• Protective footwear

• Eye protection.

In addition to their own health and safety, fitness professionals would also be responsible for the health and safety of clients around the cleaning area, adhering to the following guidance:

• Wet floors - Cleaning outside of peak hours and in the correct manner, using the right products and equipment, and always using the wet floor signs.

• Spillages - Cleaning spillages immediately, and leaving the floor dry.

• Damaged floors - Highlighting and reporting damaged areas when spotted, and keeping people away where possible.

• Trip hazards - Using electrical sockets nearest to where they are working to reduce the risk of tripping.

Further, specific types of waste will be generated, some of which will require industry compliant methods for safe disposal. External companies are often hired to do this. Also, in the UK all businesses are legally responsible under the Environment Protection act 1990 for safely disposing of any waste they produce as part of their ‘duty of care’, which includes unused cleaning products.

This summarises the general checks for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

Risk Assessment

A risk assessment is the careful examination of what could potentially cause harm to people in the workplace, so that individuals can weigh up whether they have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. There are essentially five steps:

1. Look for the hazards.

2. Decide who might be harmed and how.

3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done.

4. Record findings.

5. Review assessment and revise it as necessary.

An individual does not need to be a health and safety expert to carry out a risk assessment. Examples of risk assessment in a fitness environment include:

• Are fire exits free from clutter and easily accessible?

• Is there adequate space between treadmills?

• Are free weights kept secure so that they cannot fall or roll?

• Is the cupboard door where cleaning products are stored kept locked?

• Are the chains for the rowing machines oiled sufficiently and free from rust?

• Is there appropriate overhead space for planned exercises and associated equipment?

The aim is to make sure nobody is harmed. The important aspects to decide are whether a hazard is significant, and whether it is covered by satisfactory precautions so that the risk is small.

This summarises the general guidelines for Risk Assessment.