NSCA CPT Study Guide Section #4 - SAFETY AND LEGAL ISSUES

Phases of designing and planning a fitness facility

1. Predesign Phase

2. Design Phase

3. Construction Phase

4. Pre-Operation Phase

Predesign phase

In the predesign phase, the committee conducts a needs analysis and a feasibility study; creates a master plan, selects an architect, and outlines possible future expansion and alternative uses of the areas within the facility; SWOT analysis

See page 604

Design phase

May take several months; final result should be a detailed blueprint of the new facility; design should take into account equipment and facility spacing and local health, safety, and legal codes

Construction phase

Takes the majority of the time; facility design committee should monitor to ensure that the master plan and project deadlines are being fulfilled in a timely manner and also oversee the construction

Pre-Operation phase

Staffing and staff development are the focus

General health and fitness guidelines - Passageways

-According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passageway width must be at least 36 inches to accommodate wheelchairs

-Hallways and circulation passages need to be at least 60 inches

-Floor should remain level through door entrances

-Emergency exit signage must be free of obstructions and have clear visibility (sufficient lighting)

General health and fitness guidelines - Natural lighting and windows

-It is desirable to locate cardiovascular machines next to or facing windows

General health and fitness guidelines - Repair and Maintenance Shop

-Desirable to locate a repair and maintenance shop adjacent to or near a fitness room for convenience when large, heavy equipment needs to be transferred to the shop

General health and fitness guidelines - Water Fountain

-Have a water fountain installed close to the entrance of the main fitness rooms; should not block the flow of traffic

-Need to be installed at a height that can be reached by a person in a wheelchair

General health and fitness guidelines - Emergency First Aid Kit and AED

-AEDs should be located within a 1.5 minute walk of a potential incident site

-ADA requires all AED devices to be at a height that can be reached by a person in a wheelchair

General health and fitness guidelines - Background Music and Noise

-Maintain background noise levels below 70 decibels and never exceed 90 decibels

-Speakers should be installed high in all corners of the rooms

-Urethane-coated free weights may significantly reduce noise levels

General health and fitness guidelines - Electrical Requirements

-110 and 120 volt outlets

-Additional outlet around fitness rooms would be convenient for vacuuming, scrubbing, and other purposes

-Ground-fault circuit interrupters are essential safety devices for automatically shutting down power in the event of an electrical short due to water or insulation problems

General health and fitness guidelines - Temperature and Humidity Control

-Recommended temperature range is 72-78 degrees F and/or 68-72 degrees F

-A zone heating and cooling system may be the most cost-effective and user friendly

-Capacity of ventilation systems should be at least 8-10 air exchanges per hour, and an optimal range is 12-15 per hour

General health and fitness guidelines - Signage/Communication Boards/Telephones/Suggestion Box

-Signage should be installed to clearly display operational policies, facility rules, safety guidelines, entrances, exits, rest rooms, etc.

-Communication boards should be located near the front of the entrance of the facility where people can view them without blocking the flow of traffic

-Telephones should be located in the supervisor's office for emergency purposes

-A comment and suggestion box may be placed near the main entrance of a health and fitness facility

Resistance training room guidelines - Space for Supervisors

-Office is ideally located in the resistance training room so that the supervisor can view the entire room

Resistance training room guidelines - Location of Resistance Training Room

-Ideal location is on the ground floor near locker rooms and a service entrance so that delivery of equipment to and from the room is convenient

Resistance training room guidelines - Staff-to-Client Ratios

-Recommended ratio between fitness staff and exercisers is 1:10

-Middle school strength and conditioning facilities: 1:10

-Secondary school facilities: 1:15

-Facilities that serve athletes or clients older than secondary school should not exceed 1:20

Resistance training room guidelines - Ceiling Height/Windows/Doors/Lighting/Storage Area

-Desirable ceiling height ranges from 12-14 feet or 3/7-4.3 meters

-Windows should be a minimum of 20 inches above the floor; best to avoid placing windows where spotters or exercisers would be likely to lean against them

-Desirable to have double doors with removable center posts for more convenient transfer of large, heavy exercise equipment

-Desirable for lighting to be 75-100 foot-candles or 807-1,076 lux; all light switches must be accessible by people in wheelchairs

Resistance training room guidelines - Mirrors/Equipment Spacing

-Mirrors should be installed at least 20 inches above the floor

-Dumbbell racks and all other weight equipment should be placed at least 6 inches away from the mirrors to decrease the chance of breakage

Resistance training room guidelines - Floor

-Interlocking rubber mats usually provide more cushion and durability than carpet, however, dirt, sand, and other debris are more likely to become trapped in the interlocking spaces between mats

-Poured rubber is the best option because it provides more cushion and durability

-Wood floor is best for Olympic platforms because the smooth, flat surface provides better foot contact

-Hard surfaces are not proper surfaces for high-impact activities

How to determine the number of members using the facility during any given 2-hour period

Take 25% of the total membership

How to determine the number of members who will be daily users

Take 33% of the 25% (2-hour period number)

Floor Plan and Equipment Organization

-Group resistance training equipment in separate locations in the resistance training room based on the body part they target

-Cardiovascular machines can be arranged based on their types, such as treadmills, elliptical machines, bikes, rowing machines, and stair steppers

Equipment Placement

-Exercise equipment that requires a spotter should be located away from windows, mirrors, and doors to avoid distraction or collision with other clients

-Taller machines (lat pull-down, cable column) or pieces of equipment (squat racks, power racks) should be placed along the wall or pillars to allow better visibility

-Dumbbell racks and weight trees are typically placed against the walls

-Cardio machines that require clients to be in an upright position or are taller (treadmills, stair climbers, elliptical trainers) should be placed behind the cardio machines that require clients to be lower to the ground (rowing machines, stationary bikes, semi-recumbent bikes)

-All exercise equipment should be placed at least 6 inches from mirrors

Equipment Spacing

-Fitness area should provide between 25 and 50 square feet per piece of equipment on the floor

-ADA requires that each piece of equipment have an adjacent clear space of at least 40 by 48 inches

-An unobstructed pathway of 3 feet wide should be maintained in the facility at all times

-Ceiling height of a minimum of 12 feet is recommended

-An area for stretching that allows 40-60 square feet of space per user is recommended

-All resistance training machines and equipment must be spaced at least 2 feet apart (preferably 3 feet)

-The ends of all Olympic bars and fixed-weight barbells on racks should be spaced 3 feet apart

-The area designated for free weights should be able to accommodate 3-4 exercisers

Facility/Equipment Maintenance

-Wall surfaces should be cleaned 2-3 times per week as needed

-PT needs to inspect, maintain, and clean the floor regularly

-Clean and maintain exercise equipment regularly

-All mats and bench upholstery should be disinfected daily and kept free of cracks and tears

-Tops and bottoms of plyometric boxes should have nonslip surfaces for safe use and should be inspected monthly for excessive wear

-Chains, cables, belts, and pulleys should be adjusted for proper alignment, tension, and smooth fiction on a weekly basis

-All moving parts of cardio machines (belts, chains, joints, flywheels) should be properly lubricated and cleaned 2-3 times weekly or as needed

Standards and Guidelines

Establish the parameters of appropriate practice for professions such as personal training

Certification

The assessment of competence for a particular profession

Accreditation

The official recognition that an organization's educational program or certification test (or both) meets specified criteria

Licensure

A state-mandated and approved process by which certain professionals who become licensed are authorized to provide defined services to others

Criminal Law

-Findings related to guilt or innocence and thus freedom or punishment are involved in criminal law charges and protections

-Sometimes invoked to deal with issues related to conduct that is prohibited and made criminal by US federal or state statutory laws or both.

-A criminal act is an unlawful act made so by Congressional or state legislative bodies, committed against society and punishable by fine, imprisonment, or death

Contract Law

-Involves promises or performance negotiated and bargained for between at least two parties that are supported by some consideration-something of value

-Contract law principles are relevant to the use of releases, waivers, informed consents, and a variety of other personal training documents

Tort Law

-Applies to wrongful acts or omissions that occur between the relevant parties, namely the personal trainer and his or her clients.

-These acts or omissions often involve personal injury or even wrongful death claims

-Tort law claims generally involve claims of negligence

Negligence

The failure of one person to comply with a legally determined duty to protect another person, which failure proximately causes that there person harm

Defenses to Negligence Actions

-Adherence to industry standards and guidelines

-Receipt of proper informed consent for testing

-Assumption of risk by the client

-Waiver or release of liability given by a client before activity

Assumption of Risk

Based on a participant's voluntarily knowing, understanding, and agreeing to assume those ordinary and reasonable risks associated with certain activities

Waivers (Releases of Liability)

Contractual promises whereby one party agrees prospectively--in advance of activity--not to bring a claim or suit (or both) in the event she is inured during that activity

Liability Insurance

A contractual promise by which the insurer promises to defend and indemnify the insured, up to defined limits of liability, from certain defined liability risks at the insurer's cost in exchange for the payment of a premium

Symptoms of overtraining from resistance exercise

Plateau followed by decrease of strength gains, sleep disturbances, decrease in lean body mass (when not dieting), decreased appetite, a cold that just won't go away, persistent flu-like symptoms, loss of interest in the training program, mood changes, excessive muscle soreness

Which of the following describes the judicial system that concerns itself with cases of negligence?

Civil system and assess duty and liability

All of the following actions should occur when applying rescue breaths during cardiopulmonary resuscitation except:

A) Blow in for 2-3 seconds

B) Apply 2 breaths at a time

C) Open the airway by tilting the sea and lifting the chin

A - Blow in for 2-3 seconds - the breath in should only last for 1 second

Which part of the judicial system is most likely to deal with a personal injury claim by a client against a personal trainer?

Tort law

What is a feasibility study?

A feasibility study determines whether the cost, facility location, projected needs, and projected usage of the facility can match the needs analysis

Which of the following best describes how a personal trainer should adhere to the industry standards and guidelines?

A) Adhere to the standards of their choice

B) Adhere to the standard that pertains most principally to their certification

C) Combine multiple standards and guideline sources

B - Adhere to the standard that pertains most principally to their certification - this set will encompass the skills and knowledge that the individual possesses. If a personal trainer has more than one similar certification, they should attempt to adhere to the most authoritative or conservative statement

What is the absolute minimum distance that resistance training machines can be placed adjacent to each other?

2 feet

During a negligence claim, which of the following parties is used to determine whether a personal trainer owed a duty to provide care to their client?

A) Jury

B) Judge

C) Attorney

B - Judge - this individual possesses knowledge needed to evaluate this often complicated question. If such a duty is determined by a judge to indeed exist, the decision of whether or not the duty was breached is turned over to a jury. The jury will also determine the damages to be awarded for such a breach

Minimum ceiling height for overhead exercises

12 feet; desirable range is 12-14 feet

How often should the belts, chains, flywheels, and other joints of cardio equipment be lubricated?

Twice per week

What are factors to consider when designing a fitness facility?

Type of training that will occur, number of clients to use facility, and anticipated client training schedules

Which of the following best describes resistance exercise overtraining?

I. Sympathetic dominant

II. Parasympathetic dominant

III. Predominantly results from excessive volume overload

IV. Predominantly results from excessive intensity overload

A) I and III only

B) II and III only

C) I and IV only

C - I and IV only - resistance exercise overtraining is characterized as the inability to recover from sympathetic stress

Aerobic endurance overtraining is parasympathetic dominant

How much space should be provided between pieces of cardiovascular equipment?

3 feet

How wide should an unobstructed pathway be?

3 feet

How often should the chains, cables, belts, and pulleys of resistance training machines be inspected for proper alignment, tension, and function?

Weekly

What is the correct hallway and circulation pathway width, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act?

60 inches

In a fitness facility, approximately how many linear feet will be required to allow 4 members to perform DB bicep curls beside each other?

31 feet - three feet are required between each lifter and three additional feet of space is needed at each end of the line of exercisers (2x3) + (3x3)

each lifter should be given four linear feet of space (4x4)

When designing a home fitness facility to exercise along with an aerobic dance videotape, how much space should be provided for this activity?

36 feet - this falls within the recommended range of user space length and width of 5-7 feet for aerobic dance, kickboxing, calisthenics, and body weight exercise in a home fitness facility

Recommended range is 25-49 square feet

When designing a new fitness facility, how much square footage should be allowed for one treadmill that is 6 feet long and 3 feet wide?

108 square feet - (length (6) + 3 feet + 3 feet)) x (width (3) + 3 feet + 3 feet)) = 108

When designing a fitness facility, how far from the mirrors should the dumbbell racks be placed, at a minimum?

6 inches

Which of the following are appropriate guidelines for an Olympic lifting area in a fitness facility?

I. 36 sq ft of space required

II. 49 sq ft of space required

III. Perimeter walkways should be 2 feet wide

IV. Perimeter walkways should be 4 feet wide

I and IV

Important considerations when buying home exercise equipment

Pg. 613

How wide must every passageway within a fitness facility be in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act?

36 inches - this width will accommodate wheelchairs; hallways and areas with lots of circulation require at least 60 inches

In which of the following settings would the legal system decide a case in which a personal trainer provided medical services to a client?

A) The criminal justice system

B) The civil justice system, focusing on tort law

C) The civil justice system, focusing on contract law

A - The criminal justice system - this action is prohibited and has been made criminal by federal and state statutory laws; this crime is punishable by fine or imprisonment; other criminal cases levied against personal trainers relate to sexual misconduct or theft

Page 626

In terms of stretching and stationary warm-up drills, what size area should be allotted per client?

49 square feet - this allows 7 feet of space in either direction, enough to perform any type of stretch

Page 611