Exercise New Zealand partnership aims to improve fitness club safety

With the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) reporting a rise in gym-related injuries, the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) has partnered with Qualworx to launch FitSafe - a product that audits operations that promote a safe experience for clients using exercise facilities.

While memberships of fitness facilities in New Zealand has risen 50% between 2011 and 2017, the ACC reported that gym-related injuries have tripled, rising from 17,694 claims made in 2011 to 52,964 in 2017.

To combat this, certification as a FitSafe operator acknowledges that the facility has a strong client safety focus and meets not only its legislative obligations to the safety of its clients, but also the good practice principles of the industry.

Nikki Williams, a qualified personal trainer and group fitness instructor who has been working in the exercise industry for over 30 years is the first personal trainer in New Zealand to complete the Qualworx 'Safety of My Clients' Audit.

Explaining her motivation for FitSafe certification, Williams explains “the reason I wanted to do it was because there is so much grey out there and really, health and safety is quite black and white, and I knew I would have gaps.

“I was doing the best that I could do reading what I was exposed to. REPs helped a lot with their quick checklist, so that was where I started, and I did what I could from that, and then I thought, right, I need to do more.

“So, going back to basics, it was about understanding what I had in place was correct, but also knowing where my gaps were.

“I looked at FitSafe, not as a way of telling me that I wasn’t doing what I needed to do, but just to tell me what I wasn’t doing.”

Commenting on the benefits for FitSafe, Williams adds “it’s given me confidence (of knowing) what I’m responsible for and what I’m not responsible for. There is some stuff that you would just do because you’re a decent human being, and there is some stuff that I am obligated to do.

“I feel I have more confidence, and I am clearer about my role within the facility that I’m working in.”

For more information email jason@qualworx.nz

Image: Nikki Williams.

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