ABSTRACT
Health and safety are the utmost priorities in any fitness center. Although newer researchers emphasize on natural environment and green surroundings for a fitness center to boost the healthy effects of it, however, several recent incidents and observations have exposed some common hazards and issues that can negatively impact the health and safety of the members of the fitness center. This paper looks into the general problems and then analyses some cases of hazardous affects caused to the members directly or indirectly due to the natural surroundings.
Introduction
Several researches show that the ability to work and the average performance of any person is closely related to their surroundings. The surroundings of a person involve many different factors; one of the most important is undoubtedly the location and design of the workplace.
In any environment, the health and safety of people are of utmost importance. In the case of fitness centers, the health and safety of people hold even more importance as that is the primary reason of getting in a fitness facility.
Fitness facilities can be of different nature and with their type different factors are involved that can impose different safety hazards.
Modern research based on ergonomics of fitness and exercise facilities emphasize too much on the environment and setting of a healthcare and fitness facility. These experts often advocate that natural surroundings around a fitness center can have more clear benefits for physical and mental health.
Similarly, cognitive researchers and psychologists agree that the physical environment has a strong impact on the work performance and health of the people. Often referred as a latent condition, it is now a requirement of modern design for health and fitness facilities to consider the surroundings and outdoor environment of the facility.
Hazards of Natural Environment
With all the pleasures of beautiful green surroundings come some hazards specifically related to the green environment. People within this surrounding should be aware of the possible and probable threats that are associated with the natural environment.
Generally, natural hazards could be classified into:
- Natural disasters
- Health Hazards
- Personal safety threats
According to a report by CDC, the people involved in such surroundings should be well aware and well planned for threats and hazards related to natural disasters such as floods, seismic range history, forest fires, landslide incidents, tsunami etc. The guide also suggests that people should be well informed about warning systems, security alerts, evacuation routes and any emergency shelters in that area in case of any such incident happens.
Apart from these natural disasters people also need to be aware of any food, air or water borne infections pertinent to that space. These hazards are more related to the personal health of all the people as these infections or allergies might affect some people more than others. Though air pollution due to vehicles, factories and power plants tops the list in the environmental hazards to health, however there are several more factors involved such as:
- Dust from the fields.
- Carbon monoxide from wild fires
- Methane is emitted by animals after food digestion
- Plants emit VOCs on warm days
- Radioactive decay inside the earth’s crust also emits harmful gases.
These and other pollutants have adverse effects on the health of people in the surroundings. In cases where people are unaware of these threats such as lifelong allergies or health conditions might result due to prolong exposure to that environment. Skin diseases and allergies are the most common health threat in open and unguarded natural environment.
Cases of Safety Hazards
Smoke Inhalation
There have been reports of cases where people at a fitness facility in close vicinity of a forest were badly affected by a wildfire and its aftereffects.
According to details, people working out at a fitness center surrounded by an artificial forest were badly affected as a wildfire initiated suddenly. The fumes and thick smoke of the fire left several people choked due to inhaling that smoke. The wild fire that erupted quite far in the woods spread through the forest in no time sending heavy smoke clouds in the neighboring area. The people unprepared for such a condition were frightened of the smoke. Many people had to be taken to casualty due to choking and inhalation of the smoke. In any facility that is close to a forest, emergency mechanism should be in place to keep the people safe from any such threat the facility should keep all the windows/doors tightly shut to restrict the entrance of smoke. Secondly, any secondary source of smoke should be removed and more importantly the air-conditioner should be on “recirculate” mode to keep the internal environment as much breathable as possible.
Equipment Rusting
Some fitness facilities install their equipment in open air or near streams to create more soothing environment. The air around such vicinities is moister and thus affects the metal components and machinery.
One such case was reported from a facility that was surrounded by a stream and artificial waterfall. The machinery that was placed in the open air got rusted over time and as a result several people got injured as the machine malfunction. Rusted parts of the machine also threatened infections such as Tetanus. Though several people got injured with the machines however one 30-year-old female member of the gym was hurt badly due to slipping off the treadmill that had rusted parts and was left unsupervised. The law even facilitates an injured person to file a case against any faulty equipment that can cause injury. For open-air facilities it is most important to have rust resistant equipment and should be properly maintained to ensure that the machines function properly.
Animal Encounter
Isolated areas chosen for fitness regimes have been advertised as the perfect place to workout for the peace of mind. However, while working out in secluded areas, people often report losing the directions and wildlife encounter. One of the most common reasons that people encounter dangers in such areas is the wrong choice of time and track.
A series of reports were filed where people saw footprints of possibly a mountain lion nearby an outdoor fitness facility. Several people said that they believed the footprints were of a mountain lion from the nearby forest however, the police believed that the possibility of the same was very low. To combat the fear among people the fitness facility should be fenced properly and more lights should be introduced around the facility to keep any wild animals away from the center.
Conclusion
There are various health benefits of outdoor fitness facility surrounded with the natural environment, however, these conditions impose some health and security hazards due to the unnamed nature of the surroundings. To maintain the safety and the health of the users, it is recommended that these facilities be properly supervised and invigilated. Use of proper warnings and instructions to guide the people involved is also recommended. The people should be educated about how to maintain their personal safety and how to keep themselves out of danger. The people opting for such places should be aware of the health risks such as allergies and infections that are prone in that area to stay safe.
The people should be directed on how to move and exit these areas in case of any natural disaster happens and what are the emergency location so to keep them as safe as possible.
Works Cited
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