Exercising Caution and Prevention in Gym Facilities During a Pandemic
In gyms across the United States, drastic changes in safety protocol are met with high expectations for patrons and employees.
Before COVID-19, gym facilities followed safety and cleaning procedures that seem simple and inadequate now. As part of the day-to-day functionings; gyms offered sanitizing stations near equipment and water fountains, while asking patrons to clean equipment after they used it.
Many employers trained their staff to clean restrooms and facility equipment as part of their general tasks, or employed a separate, albeit standard janitorial department.
We couldn’t have imagined how, neglecting some of these simple procedures would have giant implications in a pandemic world that was just around the corner.
To keep gyms running safely and to prevent them from becoming COVID-19 hotspots; employers must update and enforce their protocols— and they can’t do it alone.
For many gyms, the safest and most guaranteed way to stick to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Environment Protection Agency (EPA) standards is to retain a Commercial Cleaning Service with specializations in Critical Disinfection and Prevention.
In this article we will take a look at some of the benefits that working with a commercial cleaning company like S Grace Facilities brings, and how these can improve the safety and wellbeing of patrons and employees.
But let’s begin by discussing how employers can improve the experiences of patrons and employees, so that they will be cooperative, productive, and proactive.
Since April, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been steadfast in their assertion that people should wear a mask in public places where social distancing may be difficult to maintain. However, on June 16th the World Health Organization (WHO) advised people against working out in a mask, citing it can affect the way you breathe.
While wearing a mask and social distancing are not a cure for COVID-19, they’re two of the best defenses we have. Expectations for wearing masks should be clear; if mask wearing is enforced inconsistently, gyms could very well see disruption, disorder and/or outbreak.
In states where wearing a mask is enforceable and yet a patron defies, citing concerns over air quality, breathing, or civil liberties, employers and staff may:
Offer the patron a cotton mask, which helps wearers to breathe more easily.
Remind them that wearing a mask doesn’t offer the wearer 100% protection, but it does protect them from large droplets circulating in the air.
Point them towards a sign that clearly states the gym’s Mask Policy, which is frequently visible throughout all facilities.
Ask the patron to reserve a private workout room for their next visit, where enclosed facilities are possible.
(In states where enforcing mask policies is allowed) remind employees that the burden of enforcing Mask Policy doesn’t fall on them alone, and to enlist the assistance of management if a patron further defies or refuses to leave.
In many gym facilities across America, creating safe social distances between patrons is easier said than done.
Some gyms are taking indoor classes to outdoor parks, while others are limiting the sizes of classes to a third or more of their previous capacity. Nationwide, most gyms are reducing their hours— providing more time for janitorial services to deep clean each day.
To cover all of the facility’s equipment with all its nooks and crannies; the deep cleaning necessary on behalf of gym staff and expert commercial cleaning crews is extensive and physically demanding. While staff proactively disinfects facilities and supports social distancing and masking protocols, patrons must also be encouraged to do their part.
By helping themselves, gym patrons help employees meet raised expectations. Through ample signage, patrons should be encouraged to:
Use sanitizing stations to wipe down workout machines, like treadmills, as well as any exercise balls, yoga mats, dead weights, or other equipment they may have used.
Wear masks AND gloves. Extra gloves should be provided around the facility, in locker rooms, and at sanitizing stations.
Exercise excellent hygiene, and reserve a shower if necessary. Expectations for good hygiene should be made clear throughout facilities and in locker rooms, and may warn patrons that if they exhibit signs of infection, they’ll be asked to leave.
If necessary, reserve a shower through a process of ‘hoteling’— wherein showers are reserved for specified blocks of time so that they can be cleaned between users.
On March 18th, 2020, Donald Trump signed into effect the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which guarantees that every employee has access to:
Free coronavirus testing
Paid emergency leave
Enhanced unemployment insurance
Additional protections for employees who are responsible for cleaning at-risk places, and more.
Because many employees are qualified by the FFCRA for paid emergency leave and increased unemployment insurance; gym facilities could see increased absentees unless employers provide heightened comfort and protection to those who’ve chosen to return to work.
Companies work with S Grace Facilities to devise Safety Continuity Plans for their commercial facilities, which include strategic workplace solutions tailed to the needs of the individual facility being decontaminated.
These Safety Continuity Plans include:
Gym-specific PPE supply kits located strategically throughout facilities
Access to Infrared Temperature Scanning Technology
Social Distancing Signage and consultation for how to improve social distancing between equipment and in communal areas.
Nationwide coverage, 24/7, and the flexibility that gyms require for “hoteling—“ or, to clean showers and facilities between users.
The peace of mind brought by skilled and certified technicians, who use powerful and eco-friendly electrostatic spraying methods to apply EPA-approved disinfectants.
With 44 years of experience in janitorial and commercial cleaning, and specializations in disinfection and preventative services; it’s safe to say that S Grace Facilities is technically qualified to keep gym facilities safe.
Employers owe staff the assured protection that routine and visible commercial cleaning services bring. While searching for a company that is qualified and technically capable of disinfecting gym facilities, employers should also take into consideration that not all disinfectants are created with equal power or capability.
The EPA recently shared its List N-- a list of disinfectant products that meet EPA criteria for use against COVID-19.
Before selecting a disinfectant from List N, it’s important to consult with a specialist to make sure the product is eco-friendly, safe for use around humans, and proven efficient at killing coronavirus on multiple surface types across the gym.
In every gym, there are innumerable surface types— from leather seats on fitness equipment and basketballs, to glass partitions, to foam rollers, steel weights, tile floors, and wooden doors. Any of these surfaces can become a COVID-19 hazard zone if not treated with the proper disinfectant.
Disinfectants are only effective when used on surfaces specified on their label. Furthermore, every disinfectant requires different protocol for preparation and application.
The Specialists at S Grace Facilities help ease the process of selecting, preparing, and applying the right disinfectants, and are trained and certified to work in critical disinfection. As a result, staff productivity increases, and employees are able to focus on the new sorts of general tasks— social distancing, enforcing masks, restocking PPE, etc— now required to keep gyms the kind of place anyone can call home.
Find more information about S Grace Facilities on their COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting page.
To learn more about EPA-approved Disinfectants with Coronavirus Kill Claims, Visit List N.
Head to the CDC’s Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting through this link.
And be sure to download this PDF with the EPA’s Evaluation of Electrostatic Sprayers for Biological Contamination.