Practical tips on designing safe and effictive Weight Rooms
Practical tips on designing safe and effective weightrooms f you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is an axiom by Benjamin Franklin that applies to many different aspects of sports and physical fitness training. If a football coach does not scout the competition and devise the appropriate game plan, the team could lose to even inferior opponents. If a strength coach does not plan workouts to progressively use heavier weights, athletes will not become stronger and may even regress physically. And in terms of weightroom facility planning, if you fail to carefully plan your facility, you will dramatically increase the risk of injuries to those using the facility. Nobody knows this better than Dr.
Marc Rabinoff. Dr. Rabinoff, whose work in the legal aspects of sports and fitness training is profiled in the BFS Liability and Safety Training Manual, has been an expert witness in numerous lawsuits arising from faulty planning of weighttraining facilities. He has been an expert witness in several cases involving athletes who were fatally injured by falling off treadmills because the machines were placed too close to a wall. Additionally, Dr. Rabinoff was MARCH/APRIL 2007 One of the services BFS offers is weightroom planning through the use of 3-D illustrations.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION consulted on five cases in which individuals became paralyzed from using improperly designed Smith machines, one dying before the case went to trial. You might not hear about these types of lawsuits, as many are settled before they come to court. But the reality is that such cases are not uncommon; Rabinoff says that a few years ago one major health club chain had several hundred lawsuits pending against it. The saddest thing about this fact is that many of these injuries could have been prevented. “I would estimate that 50 percent of all the litigations I have been involved with were a result of poor facility design,” says Rabinoff.
“One of the major problems is having too much equipment for the space available. Often this is a result of school administrators or gym owners listening to the advice of equipment manufacturers, who ignore safety considerations so they can sell as much equipment as possible to increase their bottom line.” One of the services BFS offers is weightroom planning through the use of 3-D illustrations such as the ones provided in this article. These illustrations are drawn to scale to show you exactly how your weightroom can look, thereby ensuring proper use of available space and the best design for safe traffic flow.
For example, whereas three feet of space between equipment might be adequate, treadmills might require twice that amount. Having a 3D illustration is also a great way to help generate funding for a new facility. For detailed design standards and recommendations for equipment and facilities, the bible in this area is the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Founded in 1898, ASTM International is a nonprofit organization that Rabinoff has served on that consists of committees working to provide standards for materials, products, systems and services.
In many of the cases Rabinoff has participated in, the recommendations in ASTM’s annual publication provide much of the primary authoritative reference material. But to get you started, Dr. Rabinoff has come up with the following checklist to help you make your weightroom as safe as possible.
Weightroom Design Checklist Yes No 1. Weight Training Area QQ Space allows for easy access to equipment QQ Walls free of protruding objects QQ Collars and clips QQ Weight storage, dumbbell racks adequately positioned, easily accessible Benches:
QQ Instructional signs visible and undamaged QQ Signs posted emphasizing safety QQ Signs posted stating spotting requirements, warnings and acknowledgment of QQ Braced firmly QQ Surfaces cleaned/disinfected regularly QQ Entry/exits visible, marked and unobstructed QQ Warning signs visible and undamaged on equipment QQ Weight machines, weight racks and anchor points securely anchored to wall/floor, QQ Air exchanges and ventilation adequate QQ Lights functioning properly QQ Ceiling space sufficient for overhead lifts QQ Weight machines, squat racks have properly functioning safety stops Weight machines, weight racks and pulley mechanisms:
QQ Cables not broken or frayed QQ Mechanisms lubricated QQ No nude-metal stress QQ Corrosion free QQ Nonslip material on pedals QQ Nonslip rubber grips on machines QQ Nonslip QQ Shock absorbing QQ Easily cleaned, repaired and replaced QQ Free of debris QQ Platforms available for Olympic lifting exercises 9. Cardiovascular/Circuit Training Area 5.
Mirrors QQ Positioned higher than largest weight plates QQ Secured and unbroken QQ Positioned away from activity QQ Above and away from dumbbell racks QQ Easily cleaned and replaced QQ Cracked and distorted mirrors replaced quickly QQ Warning signs visible and undamaged QQ Climate controlled QQ Nonslip flooring and drip mats QQ Restrictions enforced for using area (regarding age or disability, etc.)
QQ Housekeeping: potential sites of infection controlled/disinfected QQ Machine and equipment maintenance done regularly and documented QQ Receipts and all paperwork available QQ Manufacturers’ contact information available (phone, E-mail, fax)
QQ Certified with practical and theory courses (BFS certification)
7. New member/student orientation (BFS Safety Package)
QQ Acknowledgement form signed (assumption of risk)
From BFS Magazine — March/April 2007. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
