Treadmills are a
great way for people to train indoors. They offer people the ability to
workout when the weather is bad outside, or in areas where there are
not many options for safe running. However, when using a treadmill there
are a number of safety concerns that must be considered so that you
don't get injured when using it, and also to prevent injury to others.
It is reported that in Australia over the last few years over 100
children have been seriously hurt by a treadmill.
In Australia, there is a safety standard titled Fair Trading (Safety Standard)(Treadmills) Regulations 2009 that was introduced in 2009. The safety standard
requires that all treadmills, either manufactured here, or imported
have a label positioned in a prominent place on the treadmill that warns
users to keep children away at all times, as contact with the moving
surface (the belt) may result in severe friction burns. The warning label must be visible to the user when using the treadmill as a constant reminder to keep children away.
When using a treadmill when there are toddlers around, either use the treadmill in a separate room, or make sure there is a barrier up to prevent kids from getting near. The most common way for toddlers to get hurt is when they are out of sight at the rear of the treadmill and they touch the belt and get friction burns or get their fingers caught under the belt.
When using a treadmill when there are toddlers around, either use the treadmill in a separate room, or make sure there is a barrier up to prevent kids from getting near. The most common way for toddlers to get hurt is when they are out of sight at the rear of the treadmill and they touch the belt and get friction burns or get their fingers caught under the belt.
When storing the treadmill, make sure that it is unplugged from the wall. Switching it off is fine, but kids may fiddle with the controls and accidentally switch it on, causing the belt to start, causing injury.
Always supervise children if they are using the treadmill, to prevent injury.
When starting a workout, set the belt at a speed that you can easily handle, and increase from there once you have got a good rhythm. Practice moving your feet to the sides of the treadmill as an emergency escape plan while the belt is going slow, so that you can pull off the manoeuvre under high speed when you may need to get off a fast moving belt.
When buying a new or used treadmill for sale, make sure that it has protective covers around the motor, which are firmly attached. Also, get a treadmill that has a safety switch that allows the motor to be turned off quickly. Some treadmills have a magnetic button on the display console with a string and peg attached. The peg is attached to your clothes, with a little bit of slack on the string. If you drift too far back from the display console, the magnetic button will be pulled off the console, resulting in the belt stopping. This is a safety feature to prevent you from flying off the back of the treadmill.
Always supervise children if they are using the treadmill, to prevent injury.
When starting a workout, set the belt at a speed that you can easily handle, and increase from there once you have got a good rhythm. Practice moving your feet to the sides of the treadmill as an emergency escape plan while the belt is going slow, so that you can pull off the manoeuvre under high speed when you may need to get off a fast moving belt.
When buying a new or used treadmill for sale, make sure that it has protective covers around the motor, which are firmly attached. Also, get a treadmill that has a safety switch that allows the motor to be turned off quickly. Some treadmills have a magnetic button on the display console with a string and peg attached. The peg is attached to your clothes, with a little bit of slack on the string. If you drift too far back from the display console, the magnetic button will be pulled off the console, resulting in the belt stopping. This is a safety feature to prevent you from flying off the back of the treadmill.
