Nearly 60 percent of health clubs in 12 randomly chosen cities and counties around the nation have failed a building safety management inspection, a spokesman for the Consumer Protection Commission said on Saturday.
A total of 61 health clubs, gyms and spas or fitness centers in 12 administrative regions were examined, the spokesman said.
The review covered building safety management, fire safety management and use of standardized contract documents, the spokesman said.
The spokesman said that 36 health clubs (or 59 percent of the total) failed the building safety management inspection, while 25 percent (or 15 health clubs) failed the fire safety examination.
Of those failing the building safety management inspection, 25 percent had illegally expanded their operational spaces, 15 percent had failed to properly install emergency exits and 23 percent had failed to apply for a regular building safety inspection with the proper government agencies.
Among those failing the fire safety inspection, 11 percent were found to have defective fire alarm equipment and 13 percent failed to meet the official requirements for emergency lighting, emergency exit signs or evacuation facilities.
Meanwhile, 15 health clubs (or 25 percent of the total) were found to have used non-standardized documents in their contracts with clients. Among the 46 health clubs that use standardized contracts, 33 failed to meet the stipulation set forth by the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports with regard to contract narrative terms.
Officials from the commission teamed up with consumer protection staff in city and county governments as well as construction administrators, fire fighting department officials and physical education department officials when conducting the extensive safety inspection last month.
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