Taipei City Government consumer protection officials yesterday fined Alexander Health Club (亞力山大俱樂部) after one person died from apparent gas poisoning and another 11 were injured at one of its branches during the Lunar New Year holiday, adding that it should take responsibility for compensating victims.
Alexander, the nation's biggest fitness-center chain, was fined a total of NT$360,000 for allowing unlicensed staff to operate equipment, poor ventilation maintenance and blocking exits and other access points in a manner that jeopardized public safety.
"The club should also be obligated to pay full compensation if insurance does not entirely cover the victims' losses," said Hwang Yu-sheng (
PHOTO: TSAI WEN-CHU, TAIPEI TIMES
The company should also return money to members if they ask for refunds in the wake of the incident, Hwang said.
The Consumer Protection Center yesterday launched a full inspection of Alexander's 11 branches across Taipei City after the incident at the Dunhua South Road outlet killed one patron and injured 11 others on Tuesday.
Results of a preliminary investigation said inadequate ventilation was the likely cause of the accident, Hwang said.
The branch said that it had made immediate changes following the officials' report and would finish installing carbon monoxide detectors in every branch in Taipei City by yesterday.
The installment of detectors in outlets outside Taipei City will be completed within five days, a company spokesperson said.
Alexander gyms in Taipei City reopened yesterday afternoon after inspections were completed.
On the issue of compensation, Alexander pledged on Tuesday that it would not shirk its responsibilities, though it provided no details.
Founded more than two decades ago, Alexander grew into a fitness and spa club with 21 outlets nationwide and five branches in China. It has 260,000 members and boasts NT$3 billion (US$93.8 million) in annual revenue.
After arch-rival Youth Camp Health Group (
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
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