HOME WORKOUTS THE RISKS FOR PERSONAL TRAINERS
If you train clients remotely , you must be vigilant about safety in order to minimise risk of injury and potential claims of negligence .
I n these very different times where ‘ work from home ’ and ‘ complying with social distancing ’ have become familiar terms , many fitness providers have turned to virtual classes and sessions .
These services have often been developed in quick responses to the everchanging environment , while trying to maintain a strong level of customer focus .
While delivering exercise routines online for people to do in their own homes can help to maintain contact with customers , there are consequences to consider .
Injury prevention is key
A risk management strategy is an important factor , and could begin with an evaluation to identify the potential risks , whether they be physical , financial or legal , and then developing strategies to mitigate those risks . Educating your customers is an important consideration and can help decrease the risk of injury .
As a trainer , open the class with a statement for users to practice health and safety while they are participating in workouts in their homes .
Some of the following suggestions are precautions that you should already be familiar with from delivering in-person training , while others are more specific to virtual delivery .
• Advise clients or participants to go at their own pace
• Tell them that if they are experiencing pain , they should stop the activity
• Request that they wear comfortable clothing
• Tell them to make sure they have enough room around them and that there are no dangerous obstacles
• If equipment is needed for the session , advise what is required before getting started , e . g ., chair , cushion
• Tell them to have water and a towel close by
• Always provide an alternative option to the exercise , e . g ., easier , more challenging , so they can choose a level suited to them
• Provide instructions throughout the class , and count repetitions to avoid over-working one area
• If delivering classes or small group training , think about how you can structure sessions to offer different levels , e . g ., beginner , intermediate , advanced , to cover all fitness abilities .
Disclaimers
It is recommended you provide a disclaimer at the beginning of each virtual class , potentially in the form of an online registration form that includes a standard fitness waiver . If you have a website through which clients access online programs , it is recommended to have a written disclaimer on the site .
It should be remembered that many people ’ s physical activity over the past
few months has changed . They may just be starting regular activity or resuming after a hiatus . Unfortunately , many people try to do too much too soon , and the result can be catastrophic .
Insurance
It is a good idea to make sure you have the right insurance . Personal trainers should consider Professional Indemnity Insurance and Public Liability Insurance .
Professional Indemnity Insurance is for alleged breaches of a professional duty , such as a claim of professional negligent advice or misconduct , as part of providing professional services . For example , a fitness professional whose personal training services result in injury and loss to a client , resulting in the client alleging negligence .
Public Liability Insurance is for impacts to a third party ( member of the public ) that may result from negligence by you or your staff , such as failing to demonstrate reasonable care for others , resulting in injury to a member of the public .
At the end of the day , it is important to balance the amount of risk with the amount of reward . In the current environment , it is important to keep customers ’ needs in mind .
However careful and cautious you are , incidents can occur . Should an issue arise , it is important to promptly contact your insurance broker for assistance .
This feature was written with Gallagher , an international insurance brokerage , risk management and consulting firm . You can discuss your fitness professional insurance needs with the Gallagher team by emailing
sbcbeenleigh @ ajg . com . au or calling 1800 222 012
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