One of the challenges of owning a fitness studio is the constant looming threat of a personal injury lawsuit. Instead of worrying about the possibility, it’s better to go on the offensive and do all you reasonably can to protect yourself. Fortunately, there are some straightforward steps you can take starting today to limit your fitness studio’s legal exposure to a lawsuit.
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Train Your Staff to Refuse to Give Medical Advice
Sooner or later, a client will ask one of the staff to diagnose an irritating pain. The client will probably never use the word “diagnose,” but if your staff offers an opinion, a court might consider their answer a medical diagnosis. Train your staff to remind clients that they should address their medical questions to the doctor of their choice.
Don’t Allow Your Staff to Give Nutritional Advice
Nutritional advice is perhaps the easiest type of guidance to give, which makes it dangerous if you’re trying to avoid a lawsuit. Nutritionists and dieticians usually have expertise that trainers don’t possess. If they were to offer suggestions about what to eat or what supplements to take, it could constitute giving professional advice outside of their scope.
Assess Clients for Their Correct Fitness Level
Newbies frequently have a potentially dangerous level of enthusiasm. They will often try to exercise more than they should on their first day, usually by joining a class that’s beyond their present ability.
Your staff shouldn’t allow clients to place themselves in a fitness program without a proper assessment. Otherwise, your intermediate and advanced classes could contain overzealous and out-of-shape newcomers who will blame you for their injuries.
Prevent Access to Faulty Equipment
Once an item stops working properly, make it unavailable. If the item is too large to remove easily, block its access. Use signage to warn people clearly that the equipment is out of service. You should also do equipment checks daily to make sure everything is working properly and that the things that aren’t working are properly labeled.
Be ADA-Compliant
Public businesses must conform to federal standards for easy access for people using mobility devices. Compliant spaces are more than parking areas and sidewalk ramps. They also include restrooms.
People who need an accessible restroom can easily injure themselves when trying to navigate a non-ADA restroom. Don’t take chances. Review your facility, then make the changes necessary to bring your studio in line with federal laws.
Insist on Excellent Maintenance
A good maintenance program goes beyond keeping the floor safe and dry. It also entails verifying that all utilities and appliances work as designed. For example, do the lights flicker or does the thermostat fail to set the proper temperature?
Many studios feature various hot exercise classes held in specially designated spaces that are warmer than usual. Make sure the temperature stays within a safe zone. If the system fails, is there an override option or a kill switch?
If you own a fitness studio that’s never been sued, don’t allow your track record to make you complacent. We suggest you review our suggestions for preventing a personal injury lawsuit and begin implementing them immediately.
