With the decree of 19. 05. 2020, the requirements for the reopening of fitness studios in North Rhine-Westphalia have been defined. You can view the complete decree here. We have summarized for you what this means for the operation of your studio.
Who is allowed to enter the gym?
Basically, the number of people allowed to be in the studio at the same time is limited. One member is allowed to be in the studio for every 7sqm of studio space. This means that you must take effective measures in your studio to monitor and, if necessary, restrict access. Access control systems are helpful here. A chip can be used to open a door or turnstile, allowing you to set a number of people at any time above which the studio can no longer be entered.
To avoid discontent among your customers, you should make sure that the reception desk is always manned by a friendly member of staff. This way you can inform members about any waiting times.
To avoid waiting times, especially at peak times, you can allow members to pre-register to secure their preferred training time. In the class room, you must ensure that there is at least 2 meters of space between individual exercisers.
Members, employees and even you yourself as the business owner are not allowed to enter the studio if you show symptoms of a respiratory infection. Exceptions may be allowed for employees after medical clearance.
What measures do you need to take in the studio to contain the novel corona virus?
Immediately after entering the gym, your members must wash or disinfect their hands. Disinfectant dispensers are suitable here. You can find various systems, for example, at the central purchasing department of fitnessmarkt.de. Dispensers for contactless hand disinfection are particularly effective, so no one has to touch the dispenser, viruses and other germs can also not spread on the surface of the dispenser. Make sure to use a disinfectant that is at least "limited virucidal". Limited virucidal disinfectants must contain at least 62% ethanol. They are effective against enveloped viruses such as the Sars-CoV-2 virus, as well as influenza, measles, mumps and influenza. Suitable disinfectants are commercially available according to BAuA AllgVg v. 4.03.2020.
In order to identify possible contact persons in the event of an infection of one of your members, you as the owner are obliged to document the customer contact data as well as the time of entering and leaving the gym or the business premises and the participation in certain courses are after obtaining consent to enable contact person tracing. This data must be kept securely for 4 weeks while maintaining confidentiality. After that, the data will be securely destroyed.
Members who are not prepared to comply with the rules must be denied access to the fitness center within the scope of your domiciliary rights.
What rules must members and employees follow?
You can view the exact regulations here . In summary, above all, care must be taken to ensure that minimum distances are observed and that the necessary hygiene measures are maintained. All facilities, such as collective changing rooms or communal showers, are only permitted if the minimum distance of 1.5 m is maintained. As a studio operator, you are responsible for ensuring compliance with these minimum distances. To this end, you can resort to special measures and, for example, block lockers or showers so that only every second locker or shower can be used.
Initial consultations, nutrition planning, training planning or personal training are also only permitted if the minimum distance is maintained . Your employees must wear mouth-to-nose coverings within the premises. Mouth-to-nose cover ings may be omitted to practice as a trainer if the required distance is maintained.
Wellness areas, swimming pools and solariums must remain closed for the time being. The practice of intensive types of training such as indoor cycling, HIIT and anaerobic threshold training is not permitted, sports with unavoidable physical contact may also not be offered at the moment. Play corners for children must remain closed.
Offers from catering or massage may be opened under the appropriate conditions for these areas. These conditions can also be found in the decree of the state government of NRW. Self-service by customers at open beverage dispensers, sugar or milk is not permitted. Bottled drinks may be distributed to members.
You must maintain a distance of at least 3 m between fitness equipment. So, if necessary, you must cordon off fitness equipment. Partitions between equipment are helpful in maintaining the necessary distances.
As the operator, you must maintain a room diagram of equipment arrangements and movement areas on site.
What hygiene requirements must be observed?
Your members must place large towels they have brought themselves underneath before using equipment. Ask your members to help here ahead of time.
All contact surfaces - of fitness equipment as well as lockers, shelves, seating, etc. - must be wiped clean after each use. - must be treated with a grease-dissolving cleaner after each use. Again, ask your members to assist and provide an appropriate cleaner with disposable wipes.
In addition, your staff must clean all surfaces regularly at an appropriate time interval.
You must provide hand sanitizer, liquid soap and disposable tow els in all washrooms, common areas and break rooms. Employee areas must also be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. Minimum clearance must also be maintained in internal spaces. Be sure to ventilate all rooms on a regular basis. Adequate ventilation is essential in the fight against the corona pandemic!
Refrain from providing small equipment to your members. Any equipment that is difficult to clean should not be given to members. This includes therabands, fitness mats, fascia rollers and other small equipment.
Information is the be-all and end-all
Instruct your employees in all protective measures from the decree of the state government. Furthermore, you must also instruct your employees in general rules of conduct and general rules of infection control.
Have your employees confirm in writing that the necessary instructions have been given.
Members must inform you of all applicable regulations through signs and notices.
Find now all the necessary equipment to comply with the requirements on your central shopping of fitnessmarkt.de!
Find equipment for compliance now
Editors fitnessmarkt.de (DG)
Photo credit: #353059223 Prostock-studio / stock.adobe.com
Published on: 2 June 2020