Level 2 Exercise, Welfare & Health

Unit 2 – The fitness professional

Lesson 2.2 – Risks

Level 2 Exercise, Welfare & Health
Lesson 2.2 Risks

Step 1 – Minimise risks

A studio or gym can be a very hazardous place if risks are not properly assessed
and dealt with.

It’s your responsibility as an instructor to ensure the safety of your clients, yourself
and other staff. A lot of the time this involves common sense. For instance, if you
see a stray dumb-bell, pick it up and put it back in its rack before someone trips
over it and injures themselves.

Step 2 – Read the risk assessment

To help minimise risks, your studio or gym should have completed a risk
assessment form. The purpose of this is to:

 Assess what the hazards are

 Assess who is at risk and how they might be harmed
 Evaluate the risk and decide controlling measures
 Record and implement the controlling measures
 Regularly review and update

The aim of a risk assessment is to promote safety, reduce the likelihood of

accidents and comply with health and safety law. Make sure you read and act on
the risk assessment for your facility.

Now let's look at some risks you may encounter and what you should do about
them.

Step 3 – Prevent accidents Note: this activity can only be completed online.
The picture online shows an accident waiting to happen.

Here is an accident waiting to happen. What should you do to prevent it?

 Clear the gym

 Pick up the loose equipment
 Call over to your client to stop exercising
 Report the problem to someone in authority

Step 4 – Prevent accidents Note: this activity can only be completed online.
The picture online shows a potential hazard.

Here is another potentially hazardous situation. What should you do in this case?

 Clear the gym

 Try to fix the problem yourself
 Call over to your client to stop exercising
 Report the problem to someone in authority

May 2015 © Future Fit Training, 2015 Page 1 of 3

Level 2 Exercise, Welfare & Health
Lesson 2.2 Risks

Step 5 – Prevent accidents

To summarise, when you spot a potential hazard you should usually either:

 Attend to the problem yourself if you can and it’s safe to do so

 Report the hazard to a responsible colleague or manager

Step 6 – Handle equipment safely

As well as helping to prevent others from having accidents, you are also
responsible for your own safety.

You must know how to handle exercise equipment safely, without putting yourself
or anyone else at risk. The same applies to your clients and you must help them
where necessary.

You should also make sure the equipment is safe to use. Fill in equipment
checklists regularly to ensure it is maintained and in good working order. Highlight
any items that need attention and find out the procedure for reporting and fixing
any defects.

Step 7 – Review the rules

When working in a gym the manager of your facility should show you how to fill out
their risk assessment and the procedures involved. They will also have their own
guidelines for you to follow.

For example, a facility will usually have a code of conduct. This may include
guidelines on hygiene such as wiping down the machines after use and wearing
appropriate clothing and shoes.

Guidelines on behaviour may cover bullying, complying with swimming pool rules
and drug abuse.

There may be a signing in book or swipe card system at reception. Such security
measures ensure that staff know exactly who is in the building.

All these rules and procedures promote safety and welfare. They also help to
reduce risk.

Step 8 – Fill in a risk assessment form

By filling in a risk assessment form, you will learn what needs to be done to reduce
the risk of an accident in your facility. Study the examples given below.

To fill in a risk assessment form:

1. Identify the potential risks in the first column

2. Allocate ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ to each risk in the second column

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Level 2 Exercise, Welfare & Health
Lesson 2.2 Risks

3. Describe how to control or eliminate the risks in the third column

When you have filled in a form, and followed your own advice in the third column,
you will have done everything you can to carry out your profession in a safe, legal
and responsible manner.

Step 9 – Identify the need for risk assessments

Finally, here are four statements about the risk assessment form. Which one of
them is true?

 It is essential to ensure the security of your clients

 You don't need one if you have a full set of rules
 It will stop accidents from occurring
 It will help to minimise and control risks

Step 10 – Lesson summary

It's your responsibility to ensure the safety of your clients, yourself and other staff.

Risk assessments promote safety, help to avoid accidents and comply with health
and safety law.

Either fix potential hazards yourself or report them to a responsible colleague or

manager.

Both you and your clients must learn how to handle exercise equipment safely.

Review the code of conduct and other guidelines for your facility.

To fill in a risk assessment form:

1. Identify the potential risks in the first column

2. Allocate ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ to each risk in the second column
3. Describe how to control or eliminate the risk in the third column
4. Implement the control measures
5. Regularly review and update where necessary

May 2015 © Future Fit Training, 2015 Page 3 of 3