Covid-19 Policy Statement

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Atlas Fitness Ltd COVID-19 Policy

Overview

This document sets out the framework for opening Atlas Fitness Ltd during an anticipated period of “social distancing” following full closure due to COVID-19.

This policy is based on UK Active’s framework which has been developed in full partnership with the major fitness and leisure operators and has been reviewed by leading medical experts. It has been informed by best practice from international markets where governments are at different stages of managing the COVID-19 crisis and working with their own fitness sectors.

The gym and fitness industry will have a vital role in ensuring the ongoing health and wellbeing of the nation following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. We, at Atlas Fitness, believe that this role has never been more important than at the current time in helping society regain its health. The Government realises how important ‘exercise’ is, and as the Chief Medical Officer stated: “there is no situation, no age, no condition where exercise is not a good thing.” 

It is not intended to be exhaustive in covering every possible scenario but aims to provide clear direction for the bootcamp. Instructors can make their own decisions and can go above the standards within this document, but NOT lower. 

It is not intended to be exhaustive in covering every possible scenario but aims to provide a clear direction of travel for the sector. Nor is it intended to cover all aspects of every operator: there will be special undertakings for those with specific offerings. Operators can make their own decisions and can go above the standards within this document, but not lower. We are tailoring this as a two-stage opening approach – this document looks at the initial opening period and anticipated social distancing restrictions.

Atlas Fitness is approaching re-opening in Southampton Common and The Outdoor Sports Centre as a two-stage process. This policy looks at the initial opening period and anticipated Social Distancing regulations set by Government. Once Social Distancing is relaxed by Government, these protocols will equally be relaxed until normal operations can resume.

Atlas Fitness has developed a social distancing safe workout methodology for group exercise.

Guidelines: Re-opening

General

· Public Health England (PHE) or equivalent posters will be on display informing customers and staff of social distancing and cleanliness/hygiene protocols throughout the facility.

· Instructors will commit to the wellbeing of participants, and if they show/have any signs of COVID-19 (temperature, cough and difficulty breathing), they will be sent home to follow Government regulations.

· Instructors will comply with any health designation documentation that the Government implements.

· Instructors will ensure that social distancing is adhered to, further criteria is below.

· It is down to the individual participant to take reasonable personal responsibility when  

taking part in physical activity.

Risk Assessment and Site Survey 

· Site specific risk assessments must be conducted (or updated) taking into account the risk associated with exercising in a particular location, e.g. a busy park versus a sparsely occupied one

Communication with Participants and the Public 

· Communications must be issued to participants explaining the protocols, requesting compliance, providing Q&A and ultimately reassuring members.

·  Communications will reiterate that ultimately the member must take all reasonable personal responsibility when taking part in physical activity, including the responsibility not to congregate pre or post class.

· Member Terms and Conditions will be updated giving Atlas Fitness the automatic right to suspend membership for any member in persistent breach of social distancing guidelines.

· Instructors should take every opportunity to communicate these safe workout procedures through Atlas Fitness social media platforms and email.

· A summary of the Safe Workout Protocols for Participants is provided at Appendix A. See also ‘Promoting the Safe Workout’ section in this document.

Mandatory Booking System

· Communications to participants should reiterate that the protocols are for theirs and public safety and that booking into classes in advance is mandatory to avoid overcrowding.

· Social distancing and cleanliness will be promoted when booking.

Meeting Points

· Participants should arrive individually and at pre-defined booking times and after registration with the Instructor, should be instructed to move off quickly into the park to their allocated cone.

· Where possible, workouts should take place away from car parks or other busy areas of the park. 

Participants Belongings

· Participants must always keep belongings with them, at no point should anyone’s belongings be passed between a participant and an instructor including clothing, water bottles, car keys, inhalers, phones etc.

· Participants will be advised to wash hands before attending classes. We emphasise that they are participating in a safe social distanced workout.

Pre-session Briefings

· Social Distancing and cleanliness will be promoted by the instructor at the start of the class and throughout the class. 

· Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to leave the class.

Post-session Briefings

· Participants will be instructed not to congregate post-session but asked to leave quickly and individually.

· Instructors should take care to dismiss the participants at the end of session individually or in small groups to minimise the chance that they will breach social distancing rules post-session (e.g. by bunching up on a path or by the van).

Session Structure

· Instructors must always adhere to the Atlas Fitness workout protocols.

· Classes will be organised in a series of formations in such a way as to comply with social distancing, with appropriate spacing between participants monitored by the instructor throughout the class.

· Participants must only train at their allocated ‘station’ which shall be indicated by a cone or series of cones creating a clear 2m space around each member. 

· Therefore, only the static exercises are permitted as part of the Atlas Fitness workout. Atlas Fitness will add additional structure to the sessions when they have been tested as safe and compliant with social distancing.

· Participants must not be instructed to conduct shuttle runs between two points, or run or jog around fixed locations in the park (e.g. lake or a tree) where it may cause them to bunch up and break social distancing rules.

·  Where possible, the areas of a park used for training should be relocated in between classes to avoid the risk of participants training on the same area of ground as another participant[1]

Session Sizes

· Maximum class sizes will be set by Atlas Fitness in accordance with Government, Park Authority and UK Active mandate. 

· Initially session sizes will be capped at 20 participants[2]plus the instructor(s) 

· Maximum session sizes will be reviewed by Atlas Fitness on a weekly basis and will be revised upwards when it is safe and compliant to do so.

Session Timings

· Scheduled classes are at 18:30 – 19:30 Wednesday and Thursday at Southampton Common, when the park is less populated. This is to limit and reduce the risk of coming into contact with other park users / bystanders during crowded times.

Session Types

· Kit based sessions are not permitted during social distancing sessions.

· Run Club and kit circuit sessions will start running when it is deemed safe to do so.

Equipment and Equipment Cleaning

· Equipment must be cleaned in line with Public Health England guidelines. 

· Equipment must be cleaned in between classes and at the start of every day.

· Hand sanitiser must be used

· Cones or other markers used should be cleaned in between sessions.

Vehicles

· Vehicles should not be used to store member possessions

·  Vehicles should be kept clean and tidy and subject to a full weekly cleaning regime

Promoting the Safe Workout

· Cones should be used to indicate exercise area and adhere to the safe workout guidelines.

· The two-metre guidance must be used at every session and a reminder to participants to keep the 2-metre distance. 

Responding to Positive Cases

· All participants at the class will be informed that a positive case has been confirmed and government guidelines must be followed. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Appendix A

Summary of Safe Workout Procedures for Participants

To visibly display all posters and information regarding safety measures for COVID-19

The Atlas Fitness workout has been specifically designed to meet all Government, Park Authority and Trade Body social distancing requirements. Participants must adhere to the following six rules in order to take part in the Atlas Fitness workout.

1. To avoid overcrowding, booking into sessions is now mandatory. 

2. Class sizes are set in advance.

3. Congregating in groups before or after a session is not permitted. 

4. Atlas Fitness will allow 2m of training space per person.

5. Workouts will be adjusted to adhere to social distancing.

6. Participants must keep all belongings with them at all times.
   

[1]This represents best practice. There is currently no scientific evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted via sweat particles

[2]Unless a smaller number is required by Government