Working as a personal trainer does not come without risks. You'll, therefore, need to be aware of this fact when thinking about starting a personal trainer business. While it's true you'll do everything you've learned to prevent unlikely incidents from happening, they're still bound to happen.
You, therefore, need to be prepared for the fact that something might go wrong in the long run. From bodily injury to property damage, everything in the workout station can present a risk. And obviously, where there are risks, the likelihood of a lawsuit being filed is still high.
So, how do you protect yourself? How do you stay safe against lawsuits in your fitness instructor business? Well, apart from getting fitness instructor insurance coverage to protect you in case of a lawsuit, you'll also need to understand things that could lead to a lawsuit and how to avoid them.
Let's get started:
1. Ensure Proper Maintenance and Supervision
Look around your premises. Are there heavy free weights left unattended for other persons to remove? These, and many others, can lead to injury to members.
To avoid this, ensure that members who visit your premises remove weights after use and have the equipment checked by a staff member regularly. This way, you'll be sure that no weights are left on the racks.
Improper use of equipment can also lead to bodily injuries and property damage. You should, therefore, ensure that both seats and handles on cardiovascular equipment are tight, service the chains and belts properly and regularly, and most of all, ensure that there's a member of your staff on standby whenever a client needs help with anything.
Ensure you and your staff stay up-to-date with the proper use of the equipment and warn your customers whenever they misuse any equipment.
2. Ensure Your Premises Are Safe
While premises liability is the most common, it requires little effort to change. You only need to look around for anything that looks out of place on your premises. Is there anything that can cause slippery conditions? Are electrical cords fitted properly? Are weight sacks properly secured? Are there unnecessary items on the floor? What about the water showers? Are they adjusted properly? Is the equipment not used kept in the right place?
Are you can see, identifying the potential problems and fixing them is straightforward. And these measures, as simple as they seem, can help reduce the risk, which could otherwise lead to lawsuits.
3. Always Conduct a Medical History
Any reputable personal trainer will require their clients to give information about their medical history before they start training. In fact, it is unwise for any trainer to allow a new member to participate in any form of training without first conducting a fitness assessment.
Ensure that all your clients fill out the suggested medical forms as a way of determining whether they're fit to enroll in your fitness program. What's more, this will go a long way in ensuring that you develop an appropriate program for them.
Keep a record of the initial assessment and repeat the exercise from time to time to monitor and motivate your clients.
Failure to conduct a medical history assessment can make you liable if a client suffers injury or harm as a consequence.
4. Keep Client Records
Well, apart from the medical records, it is also important to keep other vital information on each of your clients. Keep track of all their actions, program prescriptions, observations as well as your discussions with clients.
What's more, maintain detailed documentation on any instructions, including the time you had to repeat them, and warnings that were given to each client. Also, don't forget to maintain progress notes and any details regarding any injuries, including any treatment that was administered, if any.
5. Hire Well-Trained and Experienced Staff
Hiring staff with no sufficient training can lead to lawsuits due to injuries. While there's no standard verification to verify if a trainer has sufficient training, you still need to do due diligence before hiring your staff.
Remember, if actions from any of your staff members cause an injury to a club member, you may be faced with a lawsuit or be required to pay a settlement fee. It's better to be safe than sorry by ensuring that you hire experienced and certified staff.
6. Avoid Unauthorized Dietary Counselling
While it's true that a strict dietary regimen is necessary for the success of any physical activity, avoid offering your clients dietary recommendations unless you're a registered nutritionist.
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