DRDโข Intensifies Gym Oversight, Cites safety Concerns & Regulatory Updates
The Puerto Rico Department of โคRecreation and โSports (DRD) is increasing its scrutiny of gyms across the โisland,โฃ focusingโข on โcompliance with regulations regarding โฃqualified โpersonnel and safety standards.Secretary Rayโค Vรกzquez Muรฑiz announced the initiative โฃfollowing โa series of 80 visits to fitness facilities.
The impetus for theโ increased โoversightโค stemmed from feedback received during public โฃconsultations,โ including โคsuggestionsโค related to scheduling โand theโค use of technology and mobile applications within gyms. Vรกzquez โคMuรฑiz stated the DRD โwill amend existing regulations to reflect these advancements and address current needs.
During the inspections, the DRD found โaโข important level of non-compliance. According to Vรกzquez Muรฑiz, approximatelyโฃ 80% of the gyms visited exhibited at least oneโข regulatory breach. He urged gym-goers โto proactively โrequest documentation verifying โฃthe credentials of trainers โฃand staff.
“You have toโ defend yourself,” Vรกzquez โMuรฑiz emphasized, highlighting the importance of ensuring trainers possess valid โlicensesโ – โฃofficially termed “physical aptitude” certifications โค- issued by the DRD. he warned of the significant risk of injury when working with unlicensed coaches, comparing theโ verification โฃprocess to confirming aโ doctor’s credentials. These certifications require passingโค a revalidation exam.
The Secretary acknowledged a past lack of consistent enforcement by the DRDโข andโ admitted he was previously unaware โขof the existence โof the Sports Security Commission, despite his background as a sports journalist. He has since prioritized โฃreactivating the commission, which โhad been “half inoperative.” The commission has already โbegun addressing safety concerns, such as a recent โฃcomplaint regarding a volleyball tournament โwhere minors were playing matches outdoors during peak heat hours.
Currently, โคthe DRD is taking an approach of guidance rather than immediate fines. Gyms identified with violationsโ are given a 60-day period to correct deficiencies, with the โขthreatโ of fines for continued non-compliance.โ
in relatedโ news, Vรกzquez Muรฑiz announced thatโข eight โmunicipalities – Guayama, Humacao, Isabela, Las Piedras, barranquitas, Aguasโ Buenas, and Naranjito -โค have received approval for funding thru the Land and Water Conservation Fund, โa program administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This is a matching โfund,โ requiring municipalities โto contribute an โขequal amount to projects focused onโ land and โขwater conservation. โขSuch as, a $1 million project would receive $500,000 from the fund โand โ$500,000 from the municipality.