Risk Assessment – Gyms and Leisure Facilities
All employers must conduct a risk assessment in order to manage the potential risks in their workplace. COVID-19 presents new challenges for
how businesses can operate in order to accommodate the new social distancing regulations and help stop the transmission of the virus.
Businesses which employ more than 5 people need to have a written risk assessment and share the assessment with their employees,
however if you have fewer than five employees you don't need to write anything down. Please use the template below to complete your risk
assessment.
The Government’s
Roadmap indicates the
different dates (steps) that
businesses and facilities
can open as the country
comes out of lockdown as
long as it is deemed safe to
move to the next step. The
opening dates for gyms
and leisure facilities are:
Points to incorporate into your risk assessment if applicable:
-
-
-
29th March – outdoor leisure
and sports facilities can open
-
12th April – indoor leisure
facilities and gyms can open
-
17th May – organized indoor
adult sport is allowed
-
Identify potential touch points where the virus can be
transmitted and increase the frequency of cleaning to
decrease the chance of transmitting COVID-19
Reassess the capacity you can accommodate within the
premise allowing 2 meter social distancing and limiting staff
and customer numbers
Map out 2 metre social distancing round the building and
implement a one way system if possible as well
Assess staff and customer access in and out of the building
and if it is possible separate the entrance and exit
Re-do staff rotas and customer booking times in order to
stagger shifts and gym bookings
Use social distancing measures such as arrows and signage
for; one way system round the premise, limit on the number
of customers inside at one time, queue markers inside and
outside.
Put up COVID-19 signage
to remind customers
about wearing a face
covering, using the NHS
Track & Trace QR code
and social distancing.
Share the Risk
Assessment with your
team and complete any
additional training of
new procedures.
We have started off the risk assessment below with examples of what gyms and leisure facilities need to take into account in line with
COVID-19 regulations. Look at how this might apply to your business, continue by identifying the hazards that are the real priorities in your
case and complete the table to suit. You can print and save this template so you can easily review and update the information as and when
required. You may find our example risk assessments a useful guide (http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies). Simply choose the example
closest to your business.
Risk Assessment: Gyms and Leisure Facilities
Company:
What are the
hazards?
Date of assessment:
Who might be
harmed and how?
What are you
already doing?
Below are examples
of potential risks
and solutions for
them which should
be put into place as
and when the
different parts of the
facility can open
depending on which
step of the
Government’s
Roadmap the
country is on.
Follow the
Government’s
Roadmap for when
and only if allowed
to reopen at each
step:
29th March – outdoor
leisure and sports
facilities can open
12th April – indoor
leisure facilities and
gyms can open
17th May – organized
indoor adult sport is
allowed
Do you need to do
anything else to
control this risk?
Action by who?
Action by when?
Done
Transmission of
covid-19
Staff and customers
Customer service
area:
Implement social
distancing measures
e.g. screens at tills,
floor makers where
customers queue
inside and outside the
facility, gym and
fitness studio
Create a one-way
system round the
building using
different doors for
entrance and exits
Have hand sanitizer
available on entrance
to the building
Display the NHS
Track & Trace QR
code near the
entrance along with
signage for social
distancing and the
use of facemasks
Customers must wear
face coverings when
entering the building,
but they can remove
them when exercising
Encourage the use of
contactless payment
In the gym:
Limit the number of
people in the gym and
changing rooms,
using signage to
show this on entering
both areas
Implement a system
so that customers can
book a time slot to
use the gym in order
to control the number
of people in there at
one time
Staff should clean
equipment after each
use with disposable
sanitizing wipes
Have hand sanitizer
available on entrance
to the gym
Space the equipment
out by 2 meters
between each
machine, or use
screens between
machines if 2 meters
can’t be achieved
Encourage customers
to come in their kit to
avoid the use of
changing rooms and
helping minimize their
time in the building
If water fountains are
available make sure
they are only used to
refill personal bottles
and not used through
face to tap contact.
Place signage around
water fountains
requesting they are
only used in this way.
In the fitness studio:
Hand sanitizers
available at the
entrance
Set up the studio so
that there is 2 meters
of space between
each mat, the class
numbers will need to
be limited in order to
accommodate social
distancing
Clean all equipment
(weights, bands, mats
etc.) before and after
each class
Don’t let participants
share or swap
equipment during the
session/class
Put breaks in
between each class
to allow time for staff
member to clean
equipment, mats and
touch points
Don’t allow
participants to
congregate outside
the studio until 5
minutes before the
session to avoid
overcrowding in
corridors where social
distancing is difficult
You could
alternatively offer
some classes via
video call services
(Zoom or Team) in
order for more
participants to be able
to join
Staff break areas:
Limit number of staff
in these areas at one
time by staggering
breaks
Inform staff they need
to continue to socially
distance even when
they are on their
breaks
Use floor markers to
encourage socially
distanced queuing
outside the building,
gym, studio, changing
rooms and toilets
Have sanitizing
cleaning products and
disposable wipes
available so staff can
wipe down surfaces
and kitchen
touchpoints after use
In all areas:
Limit the number of
people in the building,
get customers to book
into classes, the
swimming pool and
gym slots in advance
Spectators watching
swimming classes or
events must also
adhere to social
distancing regulations
Have hand sanitizer
available at all
entrances; to the
building, the gym, the
studio and the
changing rooms
Regularly clean all
touch points; log in
screens, card
machines, vending
machines, hand rails,
door knobs
Keep music to a lower
level so instructors
and customers don’t
need to shout over
the music to be
heard. Instructors
could use
microphones in the
studio when teaching.
Make facilities
available for regular
hand washing with
hot water and soap,
along with posters
encouraging the 20
second hand washing
routine.
Put information on
your website detailing
the measures in place
so customers know
what to expect when
coming to your facility
Poor ventilation
through the building
Staff and customers
Open all windows and
doors where
appropriate to keep
good ventilation
through the building
When using air
conditioning units
make sure they are
set to take in fresh air
and take out the
inside air
Risk of virus
transmission due to
staff travelling to and
from work or living
together
Staff
See if alternative
travel arrangements
can be made so that
public transport is
avoided or staff
sharing cars, if not
advise them on the
ways to reduce the
risk of infection
e.g. passenger sitting
in the back seat, all
car windows open,
earing mask while in
vehicle, put staff who
live together on the
same shift/work pair
Risk of virus
spreading due to staff
freelancing in multiple
different gyms
Staff and customers
Implement a regular
testing program for
your staff in order to
stop the spread of the
virus
Staff member
contracts Covid-19
Staff and customers
who have been in
contact with this
individual
Inform staff of the
isolation process
Infected/potentially
infected individual
needs to isolate and
get a test
If other staff members
shows symptoms they
need to isolate and
get tested too
Inform customers who
have been in close
contact with this
individual
e.g. client who has
had a private or group
session with this
instructor
Customer who comes
in is infected/ Track &
Trace app notification
Staff and customers
who may have been
in contact with them
Notify staff and
customers who may
have been in contact
with customer and
instruct them to
isolate
Put up signage at the
entrance detailing
covid symptoms and
telling customers if
they have these
symptoms they need
to isolate and not
enter
Legionella risk in
water supply if
building has been
unoccupied for a long
period of time
Continue with risks
unique to your
facility . . .
Staff and customers
who use for drinking
water
Click here to find out
more