Health and safety in your company makes for good business but it’s also the law.

Here is a step-by-step checklist for you to consider if you run your own business or are thinking about setting up a new business or if you employ a personal trainer. Make sure you read the section about being an employer if this is what you intend to do. Remember, if you don’t actually employ other trainers but they are working on your behalf then you are responsible for their safety and the safety of the clients they are training.

Individual Personal Trainers (self-employed)

1. Register your new business.

2. You don’t need to notify the Health and Safety Executive of your business as a single self-employed trainer but you must follow recognised health and safety guidelines.

3. Take out Civil Liability Insurance. Civil Liability covers you from claims from any clients who are injured or become ill as a result of your work. You must make sure you have the appropriate qualifications to validate your insurance. Even if you have the insurance certificate it does not mean you are covered for any eventuality. You must ask your insurer if you are covered to carry out the activities you intend to carry out as a trainer and with the kind of clients you are working with. Remember your insurance only covers you to do what you are qualified and experienced to do. Level 2 Gym Instructor is not a personal trainer qualification. Level 3 Personal Trainer is only a personal trainer qualification if you have sufficient supervised work experience in the health and fitness field. If you are unsure contact HFI.

4. Appoint yourself as a competent health and safety person (The law says you must appoint a competent person to help meet your health and safety duties. This does not have to be an external consultant but HFI can assist you. Please contact HFI if you would like further information or look at the Personal Training Business Complete Business Pack (Set Up, Success and Safety Pack) which will meet your health and safety requirements as an individual personal trainer.

5. Write your health and safety policy.
   Your health and safety policy sets out the arrangements you have put in place for managing health and safety in your business. It is a unique document that says who does what, when and how (included in Personal Training Business Complete Business Pack (Set Up, Success and Safety Pack).

6. Assess the risks.
   Decide what could harm people and what precautions to take. This is your risk assessment. You must act on the findings of your risk assessment by putting sensible controls in place to prevent accidents and ill health and making these measures are followed (included in Personal Training Business Complete Business Pack (Set Up, Success and Safety Pack).

7. Understand RIDDOR reporting procedures.
   The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), require you to report work-related accidents, diseases and near-miss incidents. Make sure you know how to report, even if you never need to.

8. Keep up to date.
   You can follow the news in your sector through e-bulletins, news feeds, podcasts and texts to your mobile.

If you have employees you ALSO must:

1. Decide whether you need to notify the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority about your business and where necessary, do so.

2. Take out Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance. This covers you against claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work.

3. Appoint a competent person. The law says you must appoint a competent person to help you meet your health and safety duties. This does not have to be an external consultant. HFI can assist you, please contact HFI if you would like further information. Alternatively, look at the Personal Training Business Complete Business Pack (Set Up, Success and Safety Pack) which will go a long way to meeting your health and safety requirements as a small business employing other personal trainers.

4. Provide basic welfare facilities. You must provide a safe and healthy environment for all your employees. This includes toilets, washing facilities, drinking water, appropriate lighting and temperature.

5. Provide free health and safety training and supervision. Everyone who works for you, including those who are self-employed, should know how to work safely and without risks to health. Therefore you need to train them and supervise their work.

6. Consult your workers.
   Consultation means discussing health and safety with your workers, allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions.

7. Display the health and safety law poster.
   This is required by law. The poster includes basic health and safety information and lets people know who is responsible for health and safety in your workplace. Alternatively, you can give workers a leaflet.

8. Understand RIDDOR reporting procedures
   The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), require you to report work-related accidents, diseases and near-miss incidents. Make sure you know how to report, even if you never need to.

9. Keep up to date
   You can follow the news in your sector through e-bulletins, news feeds, podcasts and texts to your mobile.