Gyms, health clubs operating without regulation
12/09/2005 - 07:53:45Hundreds of gyms and health clubs are operating in Ireland without any regulation or monitoring.
At present, there are no regulations governing hygiene in such facilities, the safety of gym equipment or the qualifications of staff.
There is also no official inspection regime for gyms and health clubs, something that has sparked concern about the potential spread of disease and illness.
Medical experts say unhygienic gyms can be major breeding grounds for diseases and the Health Service Executive says it has no way of knowing how many people have picked up illnesses from gyms or health clubs.
The number of these facilities has mushroomed in Ireland in recent years due to the growing popularity of fitness regimes and concerns about obesity.
