The Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCAs
Risk Management Alert

Topic: Treadmill Safety

Someone once said "Exercise is hazardous to your health." Though that statement was said tongue-in-cheek and we in the YMCA-world obviously believe in fitness and exercise, many of our members who use treadmills might agree with it. During the last 30 months The Redwoods Group has had 31 incidents involving treadmills. The injured have ranged from young to old...perhaps counter-intuitively most were in their 40s. Nearly 85% involved a fall: getting on, getting off, from inattention to unexpected stoppage. The only two things all had in common were that they were injured while using a treadmill and that they would have preferred not to have been so inconvenienced.

There is much we can do to reduce the chance of injury to our patrons and the potential for angry users and lawsuits to our association. Please remember and observe the following.
  • Many incidents involve lack of familiarity...
    • equipment specific orientations should be mandatory, not optional
    • those who have reached majority may elect to sign an assumption of risk and release of liability in lieu of the orientation, but one or the other should be required

  • Many incidents involve inattention...
    • remind all users through signage, staff assistance, and training that dynamic equipment is potentially dangerous and deserves constant attention
      • getting on... make certain the belt is not moving...perhaps use warning signs
      • during use...stay focused, use handrails for support as needed, if present
      • getting off...remember to shut off the belt's movement
    • ensure highly visible markings that emphasize the belt's movement; if the manufacturer's markings are ineffectual use Crafts, Etc!® 150 Paint Marker or diluted White-Out®
      • place 1" dots, YMCA-logos, or similar markings about 36" apart along the outside edges of the belt
      • stagger the dots about 18" from one side to the other to increase visibility

  • Some incidents involve over-exertion...
    • remind patrons not to push beyond their safe limits

  • Some incidents result from faulty equipment...
    • diligently maintain all equipment...meet or exceed the manufacturer's guidelines
    • keep maintenance logs for each item of equipment: show all cleaning, service, and repair, regardless of whether the service was done by outside vendor or in-house personnel
    • remove a piece of equipment from service at the first sign of potential trouble...
      • unplug the equipment,
      • mark the equipment "OUT OF SERVICE" with a tag that patrons cannot easily remove
      • also mark the equipment with a cone that requires physical removal before use
A jury recently returned a verdict of $9,000,000 for a treadmill injury. Fortunately, it was not against a YMCA, but the exposure and potential are the same. Don't underestimate the potential for loss.

Please call us at 800-463-8546 to discuss this or any other risk management safety concern, or visit our web site at www.redwoodsgroup.com to learn more about YMCA risk management related issues.

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(c) The Redwoods Group, 2005
Risk Management services are provided by The Redwoods Group to assist the insured in fulfilling its responsibilities for the control of potential loss-producing situations involving their YMCA operations. The information contained is not intended as legal advice; it simply represents trends in the YMCA industry, related industries and/or law. Laws and suggested standards are under constant review by courts, states and trade groups. They can be vastly different in each jurisdiction. For legal advice relating to any subject addressed, YMCAs are advised to seek the services of a local personal attorney. The information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind and The Redwoods Group expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to any information contained, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Redwoods Group assumes no liability of any kind for information and data contained or for any course of action you may take in reliance thereon.
released 09/20/04