AusLeisure

Fitness Australia, the health and fitness industry association, has taken the first step towards the development of a complete Quality Assurance framework for gyms, health clubs, fitness centres and personal training businesses by publishing an occupational health and safety guide for fitness businesses.

Fitness Australia's 'Safety First' Guide is the first in what will be a series of risk management initiatives aimed at enhancing the fitness industryâs reputation.

There are 1,250 fitness businesses that are registered with Fitness Australia with at least that many more operating outside the industry's self-regulatory guidelines. By publishing a Safety Guide that is available to the entire industry, Fitness Australia is planning to engage the owners and operators of unregistered businesses in a dialogue about risk management that will bring more fitness businesses into the fold.

As Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Lauretta Stace explains, "our vision is that all fitness businesses, including gyms, fitness centres, health clubs and personal training businesses will aspire to become accredited and be part of a comprehensive quality assurance framework that is recognised by government, medical and health professionals and the general public.

"The publication of the Safety First Guide is an important first step towards that vision with a clear focus on customer safety, care and service which will be the backbone of the industryâs drive towards quality."

The Safety First Guide will be included in the information pack provided to all businesses registering with Fitness Australia and provides well researched and industry validated checklists and information on best practice standards in OH&S.

Fitness Australia General Manager - Operations, Robert Barnes adds "new business owners are always asking us for risk management information tailored to the industry and in partnership with Risk Logic we have produced a resource that has been tested in a range of our member businesses before being adopted."

Fitness Australia's quality initiatives also include an industry standard pre-exercise screening protocol being developed in conjunction with Sports Medicine Australia and Exercise and Sports Science Australia. In the longer term, a quality assurance team will be designing and developing a complete accreditation framework for the fitness industry in Australia with standards relating to professionalism, safety, quality and customer care.

For more information or to get a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Guide for Fitness Businesses call 1300 211 311, www.fitness.org.au 

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