We recently published a guide to the sort of insurance you should consider if you are running a 24 hour gym. In this post we will take a closer look at a key aspect of your 24 hour gym risk management – your induction process.
Why 24 Hour Gyms Need to Take Induction Seriously
All gyms should offer their new members an induction process. It is an opportunity to show new members how things work, and the processes they should follow in the event of an accident or emergency.
But in their inductions, 24 hour gyms will have to account for the fact that the gym will be unsupervised at certain times. Most gyms can instruct their members to report to a member of staff if something goes wrong. But what should your members do if something goes wrong, and there are not currently any staff on the premises?
Below we will outline some of the items that should be included in every gym’s induction, along with some special considerations for 24 hour gyms.
- Operating Hours and Entry Procedures
If your gym is open round the clock, you should make it clear to your members when there will be staff on the premises, and when the gym will be unsupervised.
For security reasons, it may be necessary for members to use certain entrances and exits outside of your standard operating hours. During induction, you should make it clear which entrances and exits your members should use, and at which times they should use them.
- Use of Facilities
Tell members where they can find:
- Toilets, including the accessible toilets
- Dressing rooms
- Other facilities.
Be sure to highlight any special procedures or restrictions concerning the use of any facilities outside of your standard operating hours. For example, members may be required to use their pin or fob to enter the changing rooms while the gym is unsupervised.
- Etiquette
How do you expect your members to behave in the gym?
Here are some of the etiquette points you might cover in your induction:
- Wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
- Wipe down equipment after use.
- Return all weights and other equipment after use.
- Use headphones when listening to your own music, or when watching videos on your phone.
- Be courteous and polite to other members, and to staff. As well as looking after your own safety, also look after the safety of others.
- Safety and Security Procedures
As a 24 hour gym, you will likely have slightly different safety and security procedures depending on whether there are any staff on site.
All members should be aware of your gym’s evacuation plan. During your standard hours, you can instruct members to follow the staff’s directions in the event of an emergency. But what about when your gym’s unsupervised?
Specialist Procedures for 24 Hour Gyms:
- Outline the procedures your members should follow if an alarm sounds outside of your standard hours. Specify which exits they can use, and request that they remain calm and look out for anyone who may need assistance.
- Also outline the procedures for members to sound their own alarms should they discover a fire, or if they spot a security risk. As well as sounding an alarm, you may need them to notify your CCTV team through calling a certain number.
- Provide a “safe room” for any members who may feel threatened while the gym is unsupervised. Some 24 hour gyms use their accessible toilets for this purpose, in which members can activate duress alarms to alert security personnel.
- In the event of a fire, make it clear that the priority should be for members to evacuate, and that the fire extinguishers should only be used when the fire is blocking their escape.
- If a power cut occurs while the gym is unsupervised, instruct all members to leave the premises immediately.
- You may also instruct members on the correct use of first aid kits and defibrillators if a medical emergency occurs while the gym is unsupervised.
- Incidence Reporting
If an incident occurs outside of your standard hours, instruct your members on how to report it. You can provide dedicated first aid and incident reporting forms, and instruct members on when they should complete them.
These forms do not have to be too complicated. All the member has to do is outline what happened, when it happened, and what actions they took. You can then review the incident, talking to anyone involved where possible, which may help prevent future incidents.
You should have a similar process to allow members to report faulty or damaged equipment when there are no staff around to notify.
Get Specialist 24 Hour Gym Insurance From James Hallam
James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks you face as a 24 hour gym, and we can also tailor a comprehensive insurance package to cover you for these risks at the best price.
Find out how we can help you today.