Insurance for Personal Trainers

Why do Personal Trainers/Fitness Professionals need insurance?

No two days are the same when it comes to the fitness industry with a mix of different client demands and needs. You’re there to help them put their best foot forward and achieve their goals through a mix of different types of exercises and programs.

While you may put in all the hard yards and take the reasonable steps to help your clients succeed, the truth is accidents and unwanted incidents can occur when you least expect it. There’s a great deal of responsibility when they put their health needs in your hands, so it’s important to have the right types of insurance in place to keep you protected.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways business insurance can help to protect your personal trainer business.

• If you work within a gym or other fitness facility it may be a requirement that you have a certain level of Public Liability insurance in place
• If you are renting a space for your business, Public Liability insurance may also be a required as part of your rental agreement
• Providing professional advice on fitness means there is a level of responsibility if your pearls of wisdom cause a client to experience an injury for example and claim negligence. That’s where Professional Indemnity insurance can help
• When you take to the road and go mobile, Portable Equipment cover can provide peace of mind to protect your specialised fitness equipment

Insurance for Personal Trainers

Professional Indemnity Insurance*

When you operate as a personal trainer, you clients seek out your expert fitness knowledge and skills to help achieve their goals. You have to work closely with them to craft a unique exercise plan that is going to work to their needs. However, things can go off plan, mistakes can happen and accusations can fly, potentially leading to a situation where a claim may be made against you, whether you are right or wrong.

This is where investing in Professional Indemnity insurance can help. Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is an important form of protection for businesses that provide specialist services or professional advice. It is designed to respond to claims against your business for losses as a result of actual or alleged negligent acts or omissions in the provision of your professional service or advice. PI Insurance will also assist with the legal costs associated with responding to or managing claims which are covered by the policy.

These are some examples of situations where personal trainers may be faced with a claim relating to the professional advice or services that you provide:

• A situation where your client experiences a personal injury and claims that this is due to your professional negligence as their personal trainer
• A client may also make a claim for any training plans that you provide that may be unsuitable or ineffective
• Providing incorrect or misleading advice in relation to dietary plans and food preparation

Public Liability insurance*

One of the other fundamental insurances you may need to consider for your personal training business is Public Liability insurance. Often this kind of insurance is a requirement if you operate as a contractor to a gym, a fitness studio or operate within a public space like a council park for example.

Public Liability insurance is designed to provide protection for you and your business in the event

a customer, supplier or a member of the public brings a claim against you due to them being injured or sustaining property damage as a result of your negligent business activities.

For example, your client injures themselves with a piece of your fitness equipment. Your customer could seek compensation from you for the injury, together with medical costs and loss of income. Public Liability insurance offers you peace of mind in the event an unwanted personal injury or property damage claim arises.

Business Insurance*

If you take a moment to look at all the fitness equipment you own, it adds up pretty quickly. You rely on these tools of trade to help train your clients and without them, you may not be able to get the job done.

These are some types of business insurance coverages to consider:

Portable Equipment insurance*

Portable Equipment insurance (also known as General Property insurance) covers you for loss and damage to items of portable equipment associated with your business. These can include tools of trade and items of stock.

Contents insurance*

Covers your business contents or stock if they are damaged in a fire, storm or due to malicious damage or some other defined event listed in the policy.

Personal Accident and Illness Insurance*

When you’re a personal trainer, your body is one of your business’ most valuable assets. If you were to fall ill or suffer an injury, you need to have a plan B to keep your business running while you’re out of action.

Personal Accident and Illness insurance can provide cover should you become permanently disabled or pass away as a result of an accident. This type of cover could also include a weekly benefit for loss of income if you are unable to work as a result of an unexpected injury or illness (even if it occurs outside of your employment).

Real life claim example*

The insured personal trainer was providing personal training to a client. The client complained that the exercises they were performing were difficult, eventually finding that they were causing back discomfort.

The client then made a claim for back injury, alleging that the injury was caused by the exercises the personal trainer required them to do. They said the exercise was beyond their reasonable capabilities and that the personal trainer failed to instruct or supervise them while performing the exercises.

The personal trainer was covered for the claim with their combined Public Liability, Professional Indemnity insurance and lawyers were appointed to assist.

The insurer has confirmed cover for the claim and appointed lawyers to assist.

^ The provision of the claims examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be seen as an indication as to how any potential claim will be assessed or accepted. Cover for a claim will depend on the specific circumstances around the loss and would be subject to the terms and conditions of the policy concerned. Coverage for claims on the policy will be determined by the insurer, not BizCover, and will depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved.

*This information is a general guide only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice.