The Health Commitment Statement (HCS)
The Health Commitment Statement (HCS) is a form filled out during the sign-up process of a gym that states the balance of responsibility between the trainer and the participant regarding the participant’s health and wellbeing.
In stating what the trainer and the participant can expect from each other, the HCS is an evolution of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).
The commitments may be listed in two separate columns, for example:
Our Commitments
We will respect your decision on the exercises you carry out. However, we ask you not to exercise beyond your abilities.
We will make sure that our equipment and facilities are in a safe condition for you to use.
We will make sure that our trainers are qualified.
If you have special needs in accessing our equipment and facilities, we will consider what adjustments, if any, are reasonable for us to make.
Your Commitments
You should not exercise beyond your own abilities. If you have a medical condition which might interfere with your training safely, you should seek advice from a relevant medical professional and follow that advice before you use any equipment and facilities.
If there is any equipment which you are unsure how to use, you should ask a qualified trainer.
You should make yourself aware of gym rules, including warning notices, and not carry out any activity which you have been told is not suitable for you.
You should let gym staff know immediately if you feel ill when using equipment or facilities.
If you have special needs, you must follow any reasonable instructions to exercise safely.
References:
ukactive. 2020. Improving the industry’s Health Commitment Statement for everyone. [online] Available at: <https://www.ukactive.com/journal/improving-the-industrys-health-commitment-statement-for-everyone/> [Accessed 28 July 2022].
Ukactive.com. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.ukactive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/HCS-Guidance.pdf> [Accessed 28 July 2022].
