SAFE WORKING PRACTICES IN THE LEISURE AND RECREATION INDUSTRY. The 147 Club.

 

 Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport (la fitness)

There are 6 fire exits at the la fitness, which are all well situated in case of a fire or anything. In that case there is a member of staff who is trained on fire safety regulations in each section of the building to accompany customers out of the building.

Management and staff procedures that ensure the safety of staff and visitors

The 147 Club

• The 147 club gives correct training to their staff and use the correct equipment for different tasks e.g. for lifting barrels of beer they provide training on the right lifting technique also they have trolleys to carry the barrels from the storage room to the bar.
• The club also makes sure the electrical equipment is serviced often and used sensibly to ensure its always-in good condition.
• Incase of fire there are exits and the members sure shown these exits when they join for if there is any hazards later on they know what to do.
• At the 147 no one works more than 30hours per week this is done to keep the staff from overworking resulting in exhaustion.  

LA fitness

• At the LA fitness they only hire qualified people to work there and they still offer training on first aid for example.
• There are daily equipment checks. This is done to stop members using faulty equipment and a possibility of injury.
• Each side of the pool has a lifeguard to stop drowning etc.
• In case of fire there are fire exits and there is a certain procedure the staff will expect the customers to do.
•  Every member (customer) also has to complete a health and safety test and show he or she knows the relevant health and safety regulations also.
•  Customers are told of this procedure on their first visit and are asked to remember.

 

Comparison of how effectively La fitness and the 147 Club manage its health, safety and security responsibilities

• Both organisations train their staff on the basic safety regulations, with the 147-club maybe more at risk of hazards occurring because they provide alcohol in their establishment.
• At the 147 club equipment is checked and if need be serviced regularly to keep it in good condition which is different from the LA fitness where they perform checks every morning. The LA fitness procedures is better because the problems if any are found straight away
• LA fitness staff work only 8hour shifts which by law will only allow them to work only 5 days a week whereas at the 147 the staff no one works more than 30 hours per week both organisation otherwise close up early and with the LA fitness shutting at 10pm and 147 closing up at 11.30pm. The 147 Club is better because the workers have more flexible shifts and can work every day of the week.
• Both companies store confidential data of staff and customer on a password-protected pc. As both have this not one particular company is better but passwords are good because only one user can get to the information.
• Both clubs have fire exits situated in the perfect areas even though the 147 club doesn’t have a particular procedure compared to the LA that does they have staff to accompany victims out the buildings if need be.  The LA fitness is better because if the fire traumatises any customers there is a member of staff with them to help.
• Both organisations have CCTV around their buildings inside and out with the 147 Club has some cameras hidden. The 147 Club has better measures because if anything was to happen they have more equipment to investigate because of the more cameras they have.

Full description of the security measures used in the 147 Club and LA fitness.

Violence to staff and visitors (147 Club)

CCTV identifies violence to staff and visitors. Around the facilities and outside the building, some cameras are hidden.

Violence to staff and visitors (la fitness)

CCTV cameras are well placed outside and inside the fitness club to identify any violence to staff and visitors.

Theft of property and money (147 Club)

CCTV cameras are in places around the Club. There is a hidden one behind the bar incase any money is stolen from the cash register. For Club members there are lockers to keep your pool and snooker cue’s if they want.  

Theft of property and money (la fitness)

The Club reckons its safe for this because there are CCTV cameras inside and outside. As for your clothes etc you have a locker to put these in when you’re working out they recommend padlocking your locker they provide padlocks if you don’t you’re your own.

Fraud (147 Club)

The Club doesn’t have any problem’s with fraud usually except maybe checks so all cheques need cheque guarantee card for the Club to accept them but mainly members pay by check so that’s ok.

Fraud (la fitness)

Incase of suspicion fraud employees have to notify the club manager then the manager will contact head office, as this may affect the whole LA fitness chain. The club manager will then know how to deal with the incident with a great deal of help with the head office

Sabotage (147 Club)

The 147 has never in counted any sabotage risks to their knowledge, so their don’t really know how to prevent the risk but if need be they contact their partners` and sort the case out.

Sabotage (la fitness)

If there is sabotage the club manager has to notify the LA fitness head office and follow their instructions as this may affect the whole LA fitness chain.

Accidental damage (147 club)

Cameras around the building will catch the damage being done

 

Accidental damage (la fitness)

Cameras around the building will catch the damage being done

Theft of information (147 club)

CCTV cameras will detect if there is theft of information

Theft of information (la fitness)

CCTV cameras will detect if there is theft of information

A logical well-structured analysis of the health, safety and security measures in the 147 Club and the LA fitness Club.

The 147 Club

• Violence to staff and visitors is dealt with by the CCTV cameras the club has an advantage because of the hidden cameras the offenders will not know if they’re in view of one or not and this will make them cautious.
• Theft of property and money the club recommends not bringing too much money if you don’t need to and members have their own lockers to keep possessions and you can hire out a locker for the night
• Fraud the 147 club incase for example check fraud they only accept checks from members and even then the members need to have a check card present with them so if they cant get money from the check they withdraw from the card

• Sabotage the club doesn’t really have any problems with sabotage because it’s the only snooker club around and there are no rival businesses to worry about.
• Accidental damage CCTV cameras are in place inside and outside to see if the damage accidental the use of the hidden cameras determines what action the club will take if any damage is done on the property etc

• Theft of information the CCTV cameras in place to see if anyone hacks into the computer. The computers are password protected anyway so customer and important information is kept safe

The LA fitness Club

• Violence to staff and visitors The CCTV inside and outside the club will be affective because the perpetrator(s) knowing that there are cameras around the building will cause them not to do the attack for example on the member of staff.
• Theft of information the club recommends locking up your property and provide padlocks for the customers this will make it harder to break into the lockers. CCTV cameras inside and outside the building will scare the thieves they will know the have a possibility of a camera on them and being caught.  
• Fraud the LA fitness incase of suspicion fraud employees have to notify the club manager then the manager will contact head office, as this may affect the whole LA fitness chain. The club manager will then know how to deal with the incident with a great deal of help with the head office
• Sabotage Incase of suspicion is sabotage the club manager has to notify the LA fitness head office and follow their instructions as this may affect the whole LA fitness chain.
• Accidental damage cameras are in place inside and outside to see if the damage accidental first of all and then necessary action is taken this is done because the club knows accidental damage can happen.
• Theft of information the CCTV cameras in place to see if anyone hacks into the computer. The computers are password protected anyway so customer and important information is kept safe

Wider impacts on the 147 club and the LA fitness that result from ensuring health safety and security responsibilities are managed effectively

• Both organisations are able to make profit from their businesses with large help from the health safety and security regulations (responsibilities) because the customer feels safe at the club, they have nothing to worry about they know the clubs have measures for everything from major incidents like fires to minor like tripping over poll cue in the 147 club the clubs are able to make profit from the customers being satisfied and they keep coming back to visit the leisure businesses in question.
• Having good standards of practices means good reputation and good reputation means the word spreads this will lead to new customers and more money.
• This will result in repeat clientele meaning more profit with a possibility of growth/expansion of the club.
• All this is able to happen because of health safety and security regulations being in place and up-to-date.

EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONIBILITES

The 147 club

• The club seem good at ensuring the health and safety laws are in place they have identified the common risks and hazards but some of the more important they did not have any real problem with like sabotage, they had no competition really in the area. Otherwise they identified and controlled the hazards and risks to a sufficient standard.
• But they for example when we visited had just had a new delivery of beer and their storage room was a bit full so had barrels outside. They tried putting these as far away from reach and contact to avoid any injury although this was a good thing they should not in the first place make the risk.
• The 147 have their staff trained in people skills this is to make sure customers feel at home at the club not only that the customers will feel safer in danger if they have a good professional relationship with the person helping them, one thing that was a little off putting was that none of the staff was trained in first aid because this is essential in any kind of emergency.
• They do try keep their customers safe and satisfied though by training their staff with use from past experience e.g. they had a kid not seriously hurt but hurt nonetheless with a pool cue that was laying on the ground and have since provided cue racks now whether the customers use this is another story but they saw the risk acted on it and now need to make sure its avoided.  

The LA fitness

• The LA fitness is health and safety conscious this is obvious with the daily checks that are performed by their staff every morning.
• They make sure the laws are in place and respected they are good at identifying risks I know this because in my risk assessment I really had to be on the top of my game looking for the risks.
• They have measures for most of the important risks scaled down, e.g. on they’re stairs leading from the gym room the stairs are rather long and after a work out a member might be a little light headed and a risk of falling and serious injury is inevitable so they have railings to walk on and they tell their members to have a sit down after a work out.  
• The club also have a good training program for their employees they take a health and safety test and need 100% to even have a chance of getting a job at the club. They give their staff basic training this includes first aid, fire safety procedures handling etc. they are very good at making sure their customers are kept safe and satisfied.
• They have used past incidents to ensure the customers are safe for example there was a fire scare in the building and the staff got to their positions and escorted the customers out of the building safely but it was winter and the members who were in the pool had to wait out in the cold until the firemen cleared the building safe to return in the freezing cold in their bathing suits. So from then on they have a member of staff who their duty is to bring out blankets and flip flops out to anyone who might need them.

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE RISK ASSESMENT

Both the 147 club and LA fitness did not have a lot of risks in their business but the risks that were there some were intolerable and the most substantial.

The 147 club

The 147 Club does not have any rival companies in Huntington, but still need have high standards. Their staff are trained to ensure safety at the work place. My group and I found the 17 Club with not a lot of risks around this is also because it is a small building. And have done a lot of work to avoid accidents.

At the 147 for example the worst risk here was the disinfectant on the bar area and even this being the worst because if a customer was to drink disinfectant there is only one possible outcome this could be death. They have the disinfectant in a well-labelled bottle but this really is nothing to stop the risk the bottle should be nowhere near the bar area the club should have a cabinet to store all the harmful chemicals in the club

Alcohol consumption with stairs in the facility the risk is substantial because after a few drinks a customer could fall on the stairs and cause injury to themselves. The club has tried to stop this by having small, gradual stairs this is ok because there isn't much else you could do about the problem.

Cues not in rack this is a trivial risk the cues were on the games room floor when we went on the visit someone could trip on the cue and this may cause injury. The possibility of this happening is next to nil but it's still possible this could happen. The club has racks but customers don't always use the racks. The 147 have done bough they could to try stop the problem but they can put up make it rule and put up signs to remind customers the racks are there to be used.

Barrels not in storage room someone might fall over the barrel and this can cause injury. This is a moderate risk. The 147 club should have a bigger storage room and stop the risk completely. This is one of the blatant risk and easy to solve like i have mentioned. They did not handle this well all they tried to do was put the barrels in a corner; this did not help at all.

Low table lights people bang their heads on the light shade. There is a rule in snooker that says lights have to be a certain height because the table has to be nicely lit. The best think they could do is put up 'mind your head' signs.

The LA fitness

The LA fitness have special training for their staff as its a national if not an international company so they would not want for example one of their members being injured and causing a media frenzy about their safety measures because this way they would have a bad image/ reputation this will cause a loss of business, and profits.

Water by the pool this might result in someone tripping over and in the worst case falling and drowning in the pool. This is an intolerable risk because it could be fatal. The fitness club has ridges by the pool side these are to prevent slipping. Maybe the club can have staff dry the pool side at interval times

sauna there is a possibility of dehydration (if someone falls asleep inside one that is) the club has staff to remove you when your time is up if you ask. This is not enough at all the club should have a timer inside the sauna to let you know how long you've been inside also they should install a  panic alarm.

Weights not on stand member or staff might drop the weights on the feet when they go to lift from te floor or even hurt their back. This is a substantial risk. The LA fitness have a stand but that's about it they should make it a rule to no put weights back on stand after use.

Staff not in gym area this is a serious risk because if there was an emergency and there was no staff around to assist if it could be dangerous maybe even fatal. They should most definitely have a member of staff in the gym area at all times.

Both the 147 club and the LA fitness have tried and done something about their risks this shows they try ensure health and safety and security measures at their businesses