Bitesize training: health and safety in gyms and fitness studios

Andy is a Chartered Member of IOSH and a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He specialises in swimming pool safety, was a contributor to HSG179:2003 and prepared the first draft on swimming pool supervision for HSG179:2018. Andy was also the Managing Director of IQL Ltd, the commercial training arm of RLSS UK, was the RLSS UK Director of Education and has experience as a local authority safety officer. He has written a number of training manuals on pool and beach lifeguard operations and on the pre-hospital management of swimming pool aquatic spinal cord injuries.

Andrew is retained by solicitors, enforcing authorities, coroners and UK police forces as an expert witness in civil and criminal litigation and fatal accident enquiries. He regularly runs training courses in health and safety management and on swimming pool safety standards as a tutor for CIMSPA, IOSH and CIEH.

Appointed as a Principal Consultant with Quality Leisure Management (QLM) in June 2009, Doug has over 30 years of leisure industry experience which includes facility management (wet and dry facilities and licensed house), operational technical management and trust health and safety management. 

Doug’s extensive  experience in leisure facility management, has afforded him all round knowledge of leisure operations.   Specialising in health and safety since 2004 and working as a leisure trust’s health and safety manager thorough to principal consultant at QLM.

His qualifications include a HND in Leisure Management a B.A, in Service Sector Management and a Post Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management. 

Doug is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). 

Doug initiated the concept and was involved in the production of the successful RLSS UK / IQL DVD ‘A Life Changing Event’.

Doug’s role with QLM includes lead auditor for  QLM LeisuresafeTM.  Along with health and safety auditing, Dooug  is responsible for delivering CIMPSA Endorsed, IOSH Accredited, NEBOSH and NUCO health and safety management courses, accident and Incident Investigation, health and Safety / leisure management operations consultancy and preparation of expert witness reports. 

In his spare time, he is a volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer, having being involved in a number of high-profile incidents on the south coast. In 2009 for one such incident he was awarded the Chief Coastguards Commendation for Meritorious Service. In 2020 Doug was promoted to Station Officer, managing a team of 12 Coastguard Rescue Officers at his local station on the South coast.

Leigh has a broad range of expertise and experience, including a management degree, NEBOSH and environmental health qualifications as well as accreditation to IOSH, IIRSM and CIMSPA professional bodies.  Leigh is listed on the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register.

Notably Leigh has worked with the HSE Policy Unit, developing guidance available to download nationally as best practice and is an active member of IOSH, chairing the IPD peer review interview process, part of the assessment for Chartered Membership, as well as having authored for Croner loose-leaf publication.

Leigh has been retained by solicitors, enforcing authorities and other bodies as an expert witness in both civil and criminal litigation and fatal accident enquiries and investigation.

Paul Hackett MSc, DMS, CMIOSH, F CIMSPA, MCIM, MIIRSM, AIEMA, MISPE. Paul is an experienced health and safety manager, consultant, auditor and trainer with over 20 years’ experience in the writing, development and delivery of training from foundation to management level delegates. He balances academic ability with practical sense and has gained an MSc in Health and Safety along with post-graduate diplomas in Sports and Recreation Management, Management and Environment and has been a sports and leisure manager at one of the UK’s largest facilities which included a comprehensive sports centre, outdoor synthetic courts for football, American football and hockey, outdoor natural pitches for football and rugby and multiple swimming pools. The facility also provided a full catering service for the centre and outside events.

Paul has written open learning materials in the Technical Management of Sports and Recreation facilities for the Institute of Sports and Recreation Management and their Supervisory management programme as well as the Pool Plant Operators training programs for ILAM Ireland and coaching safety for Sports Coach UK. He has conducted health and safety training across the UK, Europe the Middle-East and Africa. Following a number of training assignments over four years, Paul spent nearly a year on secondment to KCM in order to help reduce the Accident Incidence Rate and regain OHSAS18001.