Safety First Stone Creek: safe in action
Stone Creek: safe relaxation
Miramont marks their treadmill tracks with a stenciled logo so it’s clear when the machine is
running. “If there’s nothing on the tread, people don’t realize it and might get off and leave it running,” observes Buckholz.
Electric cabling can also prove treacherous in the fitness room. “If you don’t think about hiding cables when you’re building a club, you’ll wind up with them running all over the place, creating a serious trip hazard,” notes Conner. Clubs need to have an adequate number of electrical outlets so cords don’t have to be stretched across pathways, he says. Stone Creek, for its part, hides the cords in electrical boxes abutting the equipment served.
Maintaining a safe situation
After all of the careful consideration, due diligence, and detailed follow-up have been done to create a safe environment for members and staff, the job of sustaining it becomes that of management and the maintenance staff.
“Let’s face it. People with wet feet generally don’t walk around in a towl in a museum’s exhibition halls. And they don’t go to a restaurant to lift 150-pound hamburgers over their heads.”
“When they take over a club, seasoned operators will have their own procedures and training methods in place,” observes Visani. “But others may not understand the incredible range of things they need to be aware of.” For that reason, it’s recommended that clubs hire an experienced, professional maintenance director with club experience who can oversee and coordinate frequent safety checks.
Miramont goes to great lengths to monitor safety. Its clubs are divided into zones, and a zone “owner” performs daily inspections using a safety checklist. “Our Operating Values state, first and foremost: ‘We monitor and address safety,’” explains Shane Hunsinger, the chain’s general manager and CFO. Each housekeeper has a checklist of items to inspect during their shifts, but they also rely on one another and every other employee to perpetuate safe conditions.
UAC has similar checks and balances. “I walk through the building several times a day looking for potential repairs,” says Deb Dickinson, the director of maintenance. First-aid kits and hand sanitizers are ubiquitous throughout the club.
“I spend more money on wipes than anyone else in the club business,” jokes Kulp. All too often, operators regard safety concerns as a necessary evil and possible impediment to good
design, but, in fact, safety, aesthetics, functionality, and member satisfaction go hand-in-hand. Efficient traffic flow, fresh air, a comfortable personal space, a pervasive sense of security—all of these and other safety factors contribute to a more enjoyable and rewarding club experience. Concludes Visani: “Clubs need to be designed—and perform—in a holistic way.” —|
– Jean Suffin,
jean@fit-etc.com
52 Club Business Internat ional
| NOVEMBER 2011 |
ihrsa.org
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