Health and Wellness Leads : Make safety a key concern when planning physical activity in your workplace. An accident or injury will not “sell” the program and may end up costing the employer. This section will assist you in taking the necessary steps to avoid an accident or injury.

Points to Keep in Mind

Using Certified Professionals

Hire professionally certified instructors to lead fitness classes (whether on or offsite) or to run worksite lunch and learn meetings.  It’s also a good idea to ask the instructor for references.

When you hire instructors, make sure that your insurance protects both the instructor and your organization.

Risk Management

Whether we like it or not, liability is a problem these days.

Risk management plans don’t have to be complicated or pricey. For example, part of the plan may require that staff members fill out fitness appraisals and sign statements accepting the possible risks involved in physical exercise. It pays to be prepared. Safety and emergency policies and procedures decrease the risk of loss both to individuals and to your corporation.

Ask staff members to fill out a waiver when participating in both worksite and offsite activities. For liability reasons, staff members must know the risks involved in participating in the activity and know that they are waiving their right to sue.

The employee ought to not be asked to sign the waiver just before the activity. The waiver may be invalid if employees claim that they didn’t completely be aware the risks.

Other Safety Tips

Here’s a list of some other safety tips to keep in mind when organizing physical activity.

Look at the environment where workers are active:

• Sidewalks should be clear of ice and snow, away from falling debris or snow, and have clearly marked curbs and safe crosswalks.
• Stairwells should be well-lit and in great condition and have handrails and safety features, so that workers are not locked out of floors.
• Fitness facilities should have proper flooring, good ventilation, and access to water and an emergency telephone.

Provide medical assessment for staff members participating in activities:

• PAR-Q
• PAR-MEDX for Pregnancy

Below are some other significant safety factors:

• First-aid kit and automated external defibrillator on site.
• Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place and practised.
• Commercial grade fitness equipment (not donated, “hand me down” equipment).
• Documented equipment inspection and maintenance schedule.
• Orientation of equipment and programs done by certified professional with a physical exercise background.