This document discusses the results of a study that evaluated emergency plans and procedures in fitness facilities in Australia. The study found that fitness facilities are not well prepared for emergency response situations despite regulations requiring emergency plans. An online survey of over 1000 fitness professionals and observational audits of 11 facilities found low compliance with emergency plans and procedures. The researchers conclude there is a need for improved education and policies to help fitness facilities properly develop and implement emergency plans as part of risk management efforts.

1. An evaluation of emergency plans
and procedures in fitness facilities
in Australia: implications for policy
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
and practice
B. Sekendiz1, K. Norton2, P. Keyzer3, J. Dietrich4, I.R. Coyle5, V. Jones4, C.F. Finch6
1School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Australia. E-mail: b.sekendiz@cqu.edu.au
2School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia. E-mail: Kevin.Norton@unisa.edu.au
3School of Law, La Trobe University, Victoria. E-mail: p.keyzer@latrobe.edu.au
4Faculty of Law, Bond University, Australia. E-mail: jdietric@bond.edu.au
5Centre for Law Governance and Public Policy, Bond University; Department of Psychology, University of Southern Queensland;
School of Psychology, Deakin University; Australian Forensic and Personal Injury Consultants Pty Ltd. E-mail:
safetysearch2001@yahoo.com.au
6Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP), Federation University Australia. E-mail:
c.finch@federation.edu.au

2. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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OUTLINE
1. Background
2. Aims
3. Methods
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. Added value for the post 2015 framework for disaster risk
reduction
7. Acknowledgements

3. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
1. Background
• Australian fitness industry is an important contributor to the
Government`s national preventive health strategy (5).
• In 2007-08, fitness facilities contributed $872.9 million to the
Australian economy and provided savings in direct health care
costs estimated up to $107.9 million(7).
• In 2009-10 and 2011-12, fitness gym activities were the
second most popular physical activity and approximately one
in four Australian adults (>15 years of age) used sports or
fitness facilities (2).

4. • Despite the growth and popularity of the fitness industry,
research showed low compliance with emergency plans (16,
17) and safety practices(8) in fitness facilities.
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
• Under Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations s43:
– Fitness facility operators must ensure that an emergency plan is
prepared and maintained for the workplace to be implemented in the
event of an emergency
– the types of emergencies to plan for may include fire, explosion,
medical emergency, rescues, incidents with hazardous chemicals,
bomb threats, armed confrontations and natural disasters (14).

5. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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2. Aims
• To analyse the utilisation of emergency plans and procedures
in fitness facilities in Australia:
– To offer sustainable changes to Australian regulation for effective risk
management in the health and fitness industry

6. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
3. Methods
• Data were collected using:
(a) a nationwide online survey, and
(b) an observational audit.
• This study and the instruments were developed and
conducted as part of the Australian Fitness Industry Risk
Management (AFIRM) Project (LP120100275) that was
funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Project
Grant in conjunction with Fitness Australia and Sports
Medicine Australia.
• The study was approved by the Bond University Human
Research Ethics Committee (RO:1676).

7. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
(a) The AFIRM Questionnaire
• Developed by nominal group
technique (focus groups
conducted nationally, n=58)
(9).
• 45 x 6-point Likert scale items
• Administered over seven
weeks (6 May - 21 April 2013)
• No identifiers collected,
anonymous
• Survey items related to
emergency plans and
procedures were included in
this study.

8. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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Profile of survey respondents
• n = 1178
• Mean age = 39.9 years
• Gender = 62% females
• Registered with the major
industry body (96%)
• Mostly operate/work in small
to medium sized facilities:
– >500 m2 (41.8%)
– 500-999 m2 (19.4)
– 1000-3000 m2 (19.1%)
20.5%
32.5%
7.4%
9.7%
1.1%
24.7%
2.8%
1.3%

9. (b)The AFIRM Project Observational Audit Tool
• Six sections, 83 items
• Auditors: five trained members of the
South
Australia
(n=2)
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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AFIRM Project team.
• N=11
– Regional and metropolitan fitness facilities
– Randomly selected, voluntary participation
Queensland
(n=4)
New South
Wales (n=2)
Victoria
(n=3)

10. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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• Data analysis:
– Descriptive statistics with IBM SPSS Statistics 20
– Data cleaning and recoding prior to analysis
– Percentage, frequency and cross-tabulations

11. Table 1: Responses to Survey Items Related to Emergency Plans and
Procedures
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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RESULTS
Survey Items n M (SD) 95% CI
How aware are you of the emergency evacuation plans and
other emergency procedures in your facility?
902 4.95 (1.198) [4.88, 5.03]
How would you rate the emergency evacuation plans and other
emergency procedures in your facility?
940 4.78 (1.105) [4.71, 4.85]
Note. The questionnaire items were answered on a 6-point Likert scale. The closer the mean value
to 6, the stronger is the agreement with the particular item. CI = confidence interval; M = Mean;
n = Number; SD = Standard deviation.

12. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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Fig. 1: Results of observational audits for Emergency Situations

13. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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DISCUSSION
• The findings of our study show that fitness facilities in Australia
are not well prepared for emergency response.
• The need for proper emergency plans and safety procedures
were similarly highlighted in earlier studies in Queensland (16,
17) and Victoria (8).
• Emergency response capability is crucial for fitness facility
operators to satisfy their duty of care not only to manage risks
of medical emergencies, but disasters such as fire, explosion,
or floods.

14. SANCTIONS
Court sanctions:
Criminal penalties, court orders
Regular sanctions:
Suspension, cancellation,
revocation of authorisations etc.
DIRECTING COMPLIANCE
Improvement Notices
Prohibition notices
ENCOURAGING and ASSISTING COMPLIANCE
Information, guidance, education & advice
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
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DISCUSSION
• This study has implications for industry peak bodies and the government agencies
to collaborate in developing policies to educate and assist fitness facility managers
utilize emergency plans as part of a comprehensive risk management program.
Fig. 2: The compliance and enforcement tools in the National WHS Compliance and
Enforcement Policy (2011)

15. Added value for the Post 2015 Framework for
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Disaster Risk Reduction
• How did your work support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework
for Action:
– Reducing disaster risks requires integration of sector wise strategies.
– In Australia, implementation of emergency plans by public and private
organisations is governed by the WHS Regulations.
– Hence, our study shows a lack of emergency preparedness in the fitness industry.
• From your perspective what are the main gaps, needs and further steps to
be addressed in the Post 2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in
– Research: the gap between policy and practice in WHS and emergency plans
– Education & Training: revision and development of training programs and courses
for industry professionals
– Implementation & Practice: integrated registration systems by industry major
bodies, comprehensive risk management audits by insurance companies
– Policy: better utilisation of the National Work Health and Safety Compliance and
Enforcement Policy by developing and promoting educational tools for the health
and fitness industry

16. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Acknowledgements
• This study was conducted as part of the Australian Fitness Industry
Risk Management Project (AFIRM). AFIRM Project was funded by
an Australian Research Council Linkage Project Grant
(LP:12010025) in partnership with Fitness Australia and Sports
Medicine Australia.
• Partner Universities:
• Industry Partners:

17. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
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