Keeping exercise balls in good working order
All fitness equipment has a safety risk
While there are some differences in work health & safety
(WHS) laws from state to state, they do require people to
eliminate risks to health and safety wherever possible. If
it’s not reasonably practical to do so, then steps still
need to be taken to reduce the risk as much as you can.
Tips for reducing the risk of injury

Firstly, make sure you purchase the right type of
ball for your environment. There’s a range of
products on the market, some more appropriate
for home use than constant gym use. The quality
and durability of the ball needs to match the way
you are going to use it in your gym or studio.

Inflate balls according to manufacturer’s
instructions. It’s an important step, as some need
to be slowly inflated over a few days instead of all
in one go. Use a measuring tape for accurate
inflation, taking care not to over-inflate the ball.

Store exercise balls at room temperature, away
from direct sunlight and other sources of heat.
Prolonged sunlight and heat weakens the
material, shortening their lifespan.

Make sure there’s a suitable area for people to
use exercise balls. Keep them away from sharp
edges of other equipment, or objects that may
cause damage. This also helps to keep people
safe from being injured on other equipment if they
happen to fall off the ball.

Check that the floor surface you intend to use the
ball on is consistent with the manufacturer’s
instructions. Seek advice if unsure.

Likewise, follow the manufacturer’s instructions
about using the ball outside. Some may
specifically recommend not to use them outdoors,
as they’re more likely to sustain a puncture or be
damaged on rough surfaces.

Make sure all equipment is only used for its
intended purpose. Avoid using exercise balls for
physical activities involving kicking, hitting or
throwing. This may cause damage that’s not
immediately visible, but still increases the chance
of breakage.
A gym environment is full of health and safety risks, one
being the risk of injury from damaged equipment. It’s a
risk that can and should be prevented.
Exercise balls (also called stability, swiss, medi or
fitballs) are a common sight in many gyms and personal
training studios. They’re a versatile exercise tool for
helping people to improve their balance, strength,
flexibility and endurance. However, exercise balls are
also easily damaged, posing a real risk of injury to the
people using them.
Prevention really is better than cure. In Scenario 1
below, the ball deflated because of a tear. There are a
number of actions that could have prevented this type of
damage, and in turn the injury.
Scenario 1
A young man was holding a 10kg dumbbell in each
hand and had just sat down on an exercise ball to
perform a seated shoulder press, when it suddenly
started deflating underneath him. He was startled
and thrown off-balance. As a result, he landed
heavily on one of the dumbbells, injuring his back.
Scenario 2
A personal training studio found they were spending
hundreds of dollars replacing exercise balls. They
examined their usual practices and realised the balls
were being stored next to a window. The heat from
sunlight was shortening their lifespan. The studio
then re-arranged the floor space to store their
exercise balls away from heat and light.
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Safety tips continued …

Encourage people to avoid wearing or carrying
sharp objects such as jewellery or keys in their
pockets. They could damage the surface of the
ball.
Where to get more information
From time to time, you may need help in managing
WHS issues. A great place to start is our Riskequip
website:
riskequip.com.au.
You may also like to contact your local WHS regulator


Establish a regular routine of checking exercise
balls for marks, scratches or other damage.
Regular inspections help you to identify and
correct any safety issues before someone is
injured.
If you do find a scratch or damage, don’t try to
repair it. Take the ball off the gym floor as it’s no
longer safe to use.
It might be safer to replace the ball than try to
prolong its lifespan with temporary measures
which may actually increase the risk of injury.


Clean all equipment according to the
manufacturer’s instructions. Some chemicals
may damage the ball over time, causing it to
break.
ACT
worksafe.act.gov.au
QLD
deir.qld.gov.au/workplace
NT
worksafe.nt.gov.au
SA
safework.sa.gov.au
NSW
workcover.nsw.gov.au
WA
commerce.wa.gov.au/worksafe
TAS
worksafe.tas.gov.au
VIC
vwa.vic.gov.au
Make sure you know if it’s safe for your gym
members and personal training clients to use
exercise balls, and instruct them appropriately.
For example, it may not be safe for someone
with balance problems or other medical
conditions to use exercise balls.
Finally, there are many other hazards that may pose a
risk to health and safety. Although the information
provided here is representative, it’s not exhaustive, and
there may be other hazards in your workplace that you
need to consult people about and manage.
As with any exercise equipment selection, use
appropriate screening, guidance and
supervision. And always keep up-to-date with
industry guidelines.
The risk considerations provided here are only
examples, and following these examples does not
guarantee that you are complying with legislation. You
need to consider if the information provided is
appropriate for your situation.
Guild Insurance Limited ABN 55 004 538 863, AFS Licence No. 233 791. This article contains information of a general nature only, and is not intended to
constitute the provision of legal advice. Guild Insurance supports your Association through the payment of referral fees for certain products or services you
take out with them.