I travelled west to visit home a couple weeks ago and visited a sports complex one day to get in some cross training and decided to examine the fitness facility for risks that may lead to injury or lawsuit. This particular sports complex had a weight room, basketball court, two racquetball courts, and a swimming pool.  As I was cross training, I paid close attention to the facility and evaluated it thoroughly. While lifting weights, I noticed a few cable machines were not lubed up enough and would stick while performing my exercises. If these machines are not properly maintained, several potential dangers can exist such as the cables snapping and/or the machines literally fall apart. Some machines also had a couple loose nuts, which leads into the beginning stages of coming apart and breaking. The last thing you want is your machine to break while you are using it. This can lead to both embarrassment and injury. I also noticed that people were not wiping down their equipment after they were done and I did not see one of the fitness center employees cleaning the equipment neither. People sweat and sometimes spit all over the equipment they use. Equipment should be wiped down with a towel and cleaner after each use to prevent the spread of viruses, fungus, bacteria, diseases and sicknesses, and other germs people may possess. A few weights had worn out labels which made it hard to decipher how much they weighed exactly. This could cause someone to lift more than they should, which can cause muscle tears and strains. A couple of the weight clamps were broken, which made the clamps pretty scarce and hard to find. Some of the pedal hooks on the stationary bicycles were broken, which can cause your feet to slip off the pedal and smash your shin. Weight bars were also not put back into their respected positions. Someone can accidentally step on this bar and take a nasty fall, potentially landing on other obstructions.

            Some mats had cracks in the vinyl coverings, causing exposure of the rough inner material that can lead to cuts or abrasions. These mats should be replaced immediately. I made sure to avoid these mats when I performed my abdominal workout. Upon rounding the corner from the reception area into the weight room, there was a fire extinguisher placed on the wall that I almost ran into because I have a habit of rounding corners tightly. Running into this fire extinguisher could cause injury, especially if it were an older person that falls down from it. After lifting, I went to the basketball court to shoot some hoops. The floors of the basketball court were slick from the accumulation of dust and sweat. It badly needed swept. There were no mats on the walls underneath the basketball hoops to absorb impact if someone were to run or fall into them, which is very likely. The walls were very close to the edge of the court’s perimeter, maybe allotting six inches of space. This inadequate spacing between the court and wall can easily lead to injury. I ran into the wall myself during a game of “21” when diving for a ball and jammed my finger! The floors of the racquetball courts were also slick and in need of a cleaning.  

            After lifting weights and playing basketball, I cooled off with a swim. The pool was pretty clear but could use more chlorine, which tells me they could have just filtered it. Either way, more chlorine needs to be added to the water to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria that can lead to infections and contagious skin conditions such as dermatitis. Another hazard I noticed at the pool was a patch of loose tiles on the edge of the pool at the deep end. These tiles could be ripped out of the pool wall if someone were to grab a hold of them with force, possible leading to injury or drowning. The tile caulking could also get into a swimmers eye or on their skin, possibly causing eye infection or skin irritations if allergies existed. There is also the risk of someone walking to step on the loose tiles and unexpectedly fall down or into the pool. I also noticed the life guards were more interested in socializing than paying close attention to the swimmers.

            All of the hazards mentioned in this text can potentially lead to an injury and/or lawsuit. It is in this particular sports complexes’ best interest to remedy these risks to make their facility a safer place for their customers. Mitigating these risks will help ensure the longevity of their business and the satisfaction of their customers. I hope the manager(s) of this sports complex mitigate these risks in the near future.