The Taipei City Government yesterday fined six gyms and sports centers for violation of fire safety regulations after its latest inspection of sports facilities around the city.
The city’s Department of Health and Construction Management Office launched a joint inspection for public safety, health and hygiene, and the safety of construction of large gyms and sports centers in the city, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
The inspection found that all six of the inspected sports facilities failed to meet safety requirements. The sites are: Taipei City Wanhua Sports Center, World Gym locations in Ximending (西門町), around Taipei Railway Station and on Zhongxiao E Road, True Yoga and World Gym Elite in Taipei 101.
According to Construction Management Office division head Lee Chiu-lin (李秋林), the inspection found that the fire escapes and space in the stairway at World Gym’s location on Zhongxiao E Road were packed with materials and boxes, which violated the Construction Act (建築法), and the company could face a fine of NT$60,000.
Taipei City’s Wanhua Sports Center and World Gym’s location in Ximending violated health regulations by failing to provide regular health checkups for staff, which can result in a fine of up to NT$5,000. The city also requested that the World Gym’s location on Zhongxiao E Road provide customers detailed instructions for the use of its sports facilities in the gym by Feb. 27.
True Yoga and World Gym Elite in Taipei 101 have also been told to provide information on the number of members and membership requirements, he said.
Taipei City Department of Legal Affairs commissioner Tsai Li-wen (蔡立文) said the inspection was held ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday because the number of people visiting gyms and sports centers was likely to increase and the inspection should assure the public of a safer exercise environment.
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