Gym goer Jacqueline Powell (42) was left cleaning up weights following the popular “tradies hour” (sic) at Dimensions Health and Fitness Centre in Sydney.
Ms Powell injured her back while performing a twisting motion while moving a 25kg weight left in an awkward position on the floor.
There was a staff member rostered on during “tradies hour” (sic) who was responsible for clearing the area from 2pm to 8.30pm.
Owner and operator of the gym – JFIT Holdings Pty Ltd claimed they weren’t liable for Ms Powell’s injury as she’d signed a waiver acknowledging responsibility for any injuries she sustained during recreational activities.
JFIT claimed that Ms Powell was taking part in a training program when she was injured and therefore performing a recreational activity.
If this were the case, JFIT could rely on the “exclusion of liability clause” in the membership agreement.
However, the court found that moving the weights was actually a housekeeping activity and therefore Ms Powell was not taking part in a recreational activity when she was injured.
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder took strong steps forward in supporting the mental wellbeing of its workforce by expanding the one-day RU OK? Day initiative into a week of presentations, workshops and activities to help staff develop skills and techniques to improve their mental resilience.
When it comes to sun protection things are a little more complicated than SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SLIDE, SEEK for outdoor workers.
With summer on its way, it’s important to focus on appropriate personal protective equipment
to shield workers from the harmful effects of UV rays while maintaining wearer comfort.
Terms and conditions at gyms often contain liability waivers. However, as JFIT found these can’t always be relied upon.
Some additional steps gym operators should take to prevent injuries to gym users:
Call your account manager or regional risk coordinator on 08 9483 8888 for more advice on gyms or recreation areas.
The answer will be different for every person, but local government is always at the heart of what turns a group of people into a community. It’s the gathering places of open spaces, playgrounds and sports facilities; it’s the library, community and recreation centres.
More than 140,000 people turned out for the pinnacle event of Perth Festival earlier this year. Fans lined Canning Highway to mark 40 years since AC/DC’s front man Bon Scott was laid to rest at Fremantle Cemetery.
Great Eastern Wheatbelt RRC Chris Gilmour tells a story about a local grader operator who had a near miss with a small child. “The (grader) driver was a grandfather and it really shook him up,” he said.
LGIS is the unifying name for the dedicated suite of risk financing and management services for WA local governments, established by the WA Local Government Association in conjunction with JLT Public Sector (part of the Marsh group of companies). LGIS is managed by JLT Public Sector (ABN 69 009 098 864 AFS Licence 226827).
Risk Matters, via this website, is designed to keep members, their staff and elected members informed on topical risk management and insurance issues and LGIS programs and services.
