Maintenance Concerns
Basic Maintenance
Keeping the equipment safe is necessary to prevent injuries among students. Here are a few things to keep in mind during inspections:
Inspect all weight room equipment for broken or malfunctioning parts. Cables, clamps, pulleys, bearings, weight plates, swivels, bars, and benches should be thoroughly reviewed during a periodic inspection. Inspections should happen more frequently if the weight room is used often.
How to Sanitize Gym Equipment
Maintain written records of inspections, broken equipment, and repairs. The form should include both the inspector and the date and time of the inspection.
Clean and disinfect all equipment padding and fabric regularly. There have been many cases of ringworm and other skin diseases transmitted by weight equipment padding that is either in poor condition or isn't cleaned regularly.
Lubricate all moving equipment joints regularly.
Correct Lubricant for Fitness Equipment
On a quarterly basis, inspect and retighten all bolted frames. If the frames are removed for some reason, check all joints for stability before allowing the equipment to be used.
Cover the weight room floor with shock-absorbing mats. This will prevent damage to flooring from free weights banging the floor.
Instruction Concerns
For the safety of weight room users and supervisors, it is necessary to post clear, concise, and accurate rules and regulations and always provide students with a written instruction sheet for each lift. Visual reminders, like wall charts, help reinforce proper lifting techniques. If proper training hasn't happened, don't let anyone try their maximum weight lift or lift more weight than they can safety handle.
If the weight room supervisor or instructor does not have a previous weight training background, schools should consider providing this training to keep lifters safe.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-4. How often should weight room bolted frames be inspected and retightened?
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