COVID-19 Infection Prevention Tips for Gym Owners

For the past several months, people have continued their exercise regimes inside their homes during lockdown. As gyms and fitness studios start to reopen for business, some people are ready to get back to their normal exercise routines. Many want to know what health and safety measures are being implemented in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections. Is your gym ready?

It is highly recommended that business owners develop an infection control plan that identifies potential infection risk factors inside their facilities. In addition to following reduced capacity guidelines, social distancing, and mask mandates, many gyms and fitness studios have updated HVAC systems to meet certain standards for improved air ventilation.

To help reduce exposure amongst employees and gym-goers, we’ve provided a number of practices to implement in gyms and fitness studios!

Prepare for your reopening!

• Greeting Clients at the Front Desk
• Gym and Fitness Studio Set-Up
• Additional Safety Measures to Consider
• Keeping Your Employees Safe
• More Information

Greeting Clients at the Front Desk

Upon entry, clients are often required to check-in for group classes or display membership IDs. Consider moving electronic payment terminals and card readers farther away from the employee at the front desk to maintain safe distancing. If possible, it is also recommended that gyms and fitness studios implement contactless online reservations that will limit the number of people in the facility at one time.

Install easy-to-clean transparent shields or other barriers to physically separate employees and clients where distancing is not an option. These barriers are ideal for placement at the front desk and between pieces of gym equipment that cannot be moved. In addition, educate clients on your safety policies by posting signage to remind them. Provide hand sanitizer at the door and ask that clients sanitize their hands when arriving at the facility.

Encourage the use of face masks for both your employees and those attending the gym or group fitness classes. The mask must be worn at all times (except while actively working out) including when entering and exiting the facility, in between machines and exercises on the gym floor, when cleaning equipment, and while in the locker room. You might want to consider gloves for your employees who often sanitize high-touch surfaces throughout the facility.

Gym and Fitness Studio Set-Up

In preparing your gym or fitness studio to reopen, it is recommended that facilities modify or adjust cardio equipment, free weight areas and weight training equipment to maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet apart. Use visual cues such as floor decals, colored tapes, and signs to remind people to maintain safe distances from each other.

To ensure maximum safety, consider removing hard-to-clean equipment such as resistance bands, floor mats, foam rollers and yoga blocks. Encourage people to bring their own gym equipment as well as surface disinfecting wipes. Avoid circuits or any form of equipment rotation - reduce workouts that would require clients to share equipment or move to occupy the same space.

Place handwashing stations or no-touch hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol in multiple locations to promote frequent handwashing. For high-touch surfaces, provide employees and members with sanitizing spray bottles and other cleaning products that are EPA-registered. Clean surfaces to remove dirt and particles before sanitizing, and make sure to read the instructions and apply the products correctly.

Additional Safety Measures to Consider

Moist, warm air combined with turbulent air flow from exercising may create an environment in which virus droplets can quickly spread. Increased air circulation, particularly using fresh air, reduces the risk of infection. Consider what can be done at your facility to improve airflow and filtration, including opening doors and windows and increasing the filtration standard of your ventilation systems.

For gyms and studios with locker room access and showers, consider limited access to these areas and prohibiting the use of showers. To help reduce the risk of exposure, restrict access to water fountains except for no-touch bottle refill stations. Encourage employees and gym-goers to bring their own reusable water bottle.

Some fitness studios that offer group classes have started implementing outdoor classes in the parking lot. Outdoor classes offer more space for social distancing as well as the use for portable gym equipment. Encourage people who sign up for these outdoor classes to come prepared with their own dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, and more. For customers who are concerned and not prepared to leave their homes yet, offer livestream or virtual on-demand opportunities.

Keeping Your Employees Safe

Implementing prevention protocols specifically for your employees is just as important as keeping your clients safe. Use a non-contact thermometer to detect body temperatures at the beginning of each employees’ shifts. If an employee has a fever at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, send them home. Monitor for other symptoms including: coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.

For those employees who are under the weather, or prefer to stay home to err on the side of caution, have a back-up plan. Consider what they can do from home ( such as teaching virtual classes) and make sure you have a well-thought-out instructor substitution process in place.

More Information

For more information, visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website. To help you reopen your business, the CDC has created guidelines to provide you with a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices.

And share this article, Returning to the Gym: Tips to Workout Safely During COVID-19, with your clients!

References

1. Anonymous. (2020). COVID-19 Employer Information for Gyms and Fitness Centers. CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3gK3UIT
2. McAlister, Lauren. (2020). How to Manage Your Fitness Studio in the Time of Coronavirus. MindBody. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/31Gt078
3. Larcom, Alexandra Black. (2020). Coronavirus: Prevention and Best Practices for your Gym. IHRSA. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/31IEBTb

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.