Gym standards
- All gym activities, including weight training, are managed in a way that ensures the health and safety of all participants while maintaining the security of the Prison.
Gym
- A "Physical Instructor" is to complete initial checks to ensure gyms are set up correctly.
- A "Physical Instructor" establish and maintain a register of gym equipment, in accordance with Health and Safety policy.
- New gym equipment purchases should include cardiovascular training equipment, such as indoor bikes and rowing machines. New weight training equipment purchases will be machine weights only.
- Equipment is to be inspected weekly and in accordance with the manufacturer's or supplier's instructions by a competent person.
- Adequate space is to be provided for gym equipment.
- All pins, weights and other hazardous objects must be accounted for at the end of each gym session.
- Information on weight training stretching, warm-up, lifting, and cool down techniques as outlined in the weight training principles document, must be displayed in all gyms.
- Local gym rules must be displayed and include:
- Shoes must be worn.
- Shirts/Singlet must be worn.
- Towels must be used on weight training benches.
- Equipment must be returned after use.
- Responsible behaviour must be displayed at all times.
- Individuals who abuse the rules should have access to gym activities restricted.
- Unit staff will enforce gym rules and stop incorrect use of gym equipment.
- Weight training programmes are to be developed by a tertiary qualified physical instructor (see definition).
- Weight training instruction is to be provided by a physical instructor (see definition) on a quarterly basis or as determined necessary by the Prison Manager. This is dependent upon prisoner turnover or physical recreation activity incidents.
- Young prisoners under the age of 18 years receive instruction from a tertiary qualified instructor before engaging in unsupervised weight training activities.
Weight Training Equipment for Prisoners
This instruction is to apply to all free weights located in any area that is not deemed by the Regional Manager to be a designated gymnasium providing instruction from a suitably qualified person.
All prisons that use free weights must withdraw them from use or ensure that the weights are permanently welded to weight bars.
New purchases of weight training equipment for prisoners will be required to be weight machines only.
Replacement of free weights can only be approved by the Regional Manager in situations where qualified instruction in the use of weights for training exists.
