Member Health Screening and Exercise Safety Policy

Purpose. This policy sets how members and program participants are screened before exercise, how programs are prescribed within the instructor's scope, and how the gym floor and studio are supervised so that exercise at Summit is safe and effective.

1.Pre-exercise screening

Every new member and every participant in a personal training, group or aquatic exercise program must complete the pre-exercise screening and consent form before their first session. Screening will use the adult pre-exercise screening system stages, and any participant whose responses indicate a risk will be referred to a medical practitioner for clearance before they begin.

2.Scope of practice

Fitness instructors and personal trainers will prescribe and instruct exercise only within the scope of their qualification and the fitness industry code of practice. Instructors will not diagnose, treat injury, prescribe diets or provide nutrition advice beyond general healthy eating information from national guidelines. Clients with medical conditions will be trained only with clearance and within the limits the practitioner sets.

• Screen before any exercise
• Refer, do not diagnose
• Healthy eating information only, no diet prescription
• Program within the qualification held
• Record every session and every change

3.Inductions and programs

Every member will receive a gym induction covering equipment use, floor rules and emergency procedures, and a personalised program based on their screening, goals and assessment. Programs will be recorded in the member and client register and reviewed at the interval agreed with the member.

4.Special populations

Programs for older adults, adolescents, pregnant clients and people with disability will be designed by instructors holding the relevant qualification and will follow the guidelines for each group. Adolescent clients under eighteen require a parent or guardian to sign the screening and consent form and to agree the supervision arrangements.

5.Gym floor supervision and equipment

A qualified instructor will be on the gym floor at all times the gym is open. Equipment will be checked daily against the checklist, faults tagged out and recorded in the equipment and maintenance register, and weights areas kept clear of loose plates and bars.

6.Medical emergencies

Instructors must hold current first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation qualifications and know the location of the defibrillator. Any collapse, chest pain, breathing difficulty or serious injury will trigger the emergency response procedure and will be recorded in the incident register.

7.Membership agreements

Membership agreements will comply with the Australian Consumer Law and the fitness industry code of practice, including clear fees, cooling-off, suspension and cancellation terms, and will be explained to the member before signing.