[Updated on 6/5/2020] At Paradiso Insurance, we are dedicated to providing solutions to our clients’ problems before they happen. We always tell our customers, the best way to deal with an insurance claim is to avoid it altogether. Today, we wanted to take a few moments to speak to our clients who are gym owners on how they can avoid claims.
Personal Trainers
Having personal trainers on staff is a great way to attract customers, and a great way to provide them with professional advice that they may need to properly execute their fitness regimen! Here’s the thing though, personal training programs do come with a bit of risk. When looking for the right trainers to hire for your gym, be sure they are trained properly and/or certified in their practice. Your clients will be dependent on the trainers you hire to guide them through their routine. If a trainer is not properly qualified for the job, it could mean an injury for one of your guests later on.
Here’s another thing you should think about: Do you hire trainers that are outsourced, or subcontracted? Honestly, we suggest that our clients avoid this situation for a couple of reasons. First of all, if a subcontracted trainer makes a mistake that causes an injury to one of your customers, you, as the gym owner, will be held liable. Not only that, but if for some reason a subcontracted trainer harasses one of your clients, either sexually or physically, you will be held liable for that too.
A great way to avoid these types of risks is hiring staff trainers for your gym or fitness center, and make sure you maintain a training program that keeps client safety at the forefront of all your employees minds.
Avoiding Customer Injuries
Injuries can happen anywhere in your gym.. Sometimes, it could be the fault of your customer for not exercising with proper form, but you could still be held responsible if you don’t take the right steps. First of all, ensuring that there is adequate space for a workout/exercise regimen in conjunction with your gym equipment.
Second of all, make sure that you have signs in place for dangerous situations, such as wet floors or equipment that is inoperable or needs maintenance. Lastly, be prepared to keep the outside of your facility safe and accessible in case of poor weather conditions.
With all of these precautions in place, there is still one more thing you can do: have a liability waiver in place. A liability waiver can save you from claims or lawsuits that are not your fault, and usually will be legal verbiage, so make sure you consult a professional to see that it is done properly under the law.
Get the Coverage you Need
As a gym or health and fitness center owner, you have to be cautious at all times to avoid claims or risks. We understand that as your trusted insurance providers, and we want to work with you to help you stay claim free moving forward. No matter how cautious you are, you must have a gym insurance policy in place that will provide the coverage you need in case the unexpected were to happen.
The Takeaway
Despite your best efforts and those of your employees, sometimes things go wrong. Accidents happen. Things get overlooked. And as a result, you could face liability for something you or your people do or fail to do. Fortunately, you don’t need to face the possible financial loss associated with a claim or lawsuit if you’re properly insured—with a commercial general liability insurance program.
For more information on getting the coverage you need, or if you have any questions or concerns about your current insurance policy, give our experts a call today!
