- Owner
- Gym Manager
- Effective date
- September 15, 2026
- Review cycle
- Every 12 months
1.Purpose
To make sure the gym opens safe and ready for members, and closes with every member out, equipment secured, and the facility locked and reconciled.
2.Scope
Applies to the daily opening and closing routine for the front desk and gym floor. Equipment cleaning in detail is covered by a separate SOP.
Definitions
- Safety walk-through
- A check of the facility before opening or after closing to confirm lighting, equipment and emergency gear are in order.
- AED
- Automated external defibrillator, emergency equipment kept on-site for cardiac emergencies.
- Class roster
- The schedule and instructor list for group fitness classes running that day.
3.Responsibilities
- Front Desk Coordinator
- Opens and closes the register, greets members, and confirms the facility is locked at close.
- Fitness Attendant
- Completes the safety walk-through and checks emergency equipment before opening.
- Gym Manager
- Confirms the closing checklist is complete and secures chemical and supply storage.
RACI matrix
| Activity | Front Desk Coordinator | Fitness Attendant | Gym Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disarm alarm and unlock the facility | R/A | I | I |
| Complete the safety walk-through | I | R/A | I |
| Check emergency equipment is stocked | I | R/A | C |
| Reconcile the register at close | R/A | - | C |
| Confirm the facility is empty and locked | R | R | A |
R = Responsible, A = Accountable, C = Consulted, I = Informed
4.Materials and PPE
Materials, tools and systems
- →Alarm code and facility keys
- →Opening and closing checklist
- →Register float and cash drawer
- →First aid kit and AED
- →Class schedule and instructor roster
- →Chemical and supply storage keys
5.Procedure
- 5.1
Disarm the alarm and unlock
Front Desk CoordinatorArrive before opening time, disarm the alarm and unlock the doors following the facility's security procedure.
- 5.2
Walk the floor for safety issues
Fitness AttendantWalk the gym floor checking lighting, mirrors and equipment for anything unsafe before members are allowed in.
Checkpoint: No member enters the floor until the safety walk-through is complete.
- 5.3
Turn on music, screens and climate control
Front Desk CoordinatorTurn on background music, televisions and adjust heating or air conditioning to the facility's standard settings.
- 5.4
Check emergency equipment
Fitness AttendantConfirm the first aid kit and AED are present, stocked and show no expired items or low battery indicators.
Checkpoint: AED and first aid kit are confirmed present and ready before the gym opens.
- 5.5
Prep the front desk
Front Desk CoordinatorSet up the register, check-in scanner and any forms needed for the day, and count the starting cash float.
- 5.6
Review the class schedule
Front Desk CoordinatorConfirm the day's group fitness class schedule and instructor roster, and note any last-minute substitution.
- 5.7
Open pool or sauna if applicable
Fitness AttendantIf the facility has a pool, sauna or steam room, complete the required pre-opening checks and turn them on per the equipment manufacturer's instructions.
- 5.8
Announce closing time to members
Front Desk CoordinatorMake an announcement 15 to 30 minutes before closing so members can finish their workout and head to the locker room.
- 5.9
Confirm all members have exited
Fitness AttendantWalk the gym floor, locker rooms and any pool or sauna area to confirm every member has left before locking up.
Warning: Do not lock any exterior door until a full walk-through confirms the facility is empty of members.
- 5.10
Secure equipment and supply storage
Fitness AttendantReturn loose equipment to its storage area and lock any room holding cleaning chemicals or maintenance supplies.
- 5.11
Reconcile the register
Front Desk CoordinatorCount the closing cash drawer, match it against the day's sales in the gym management software, and record any discrepancy.
- 5.12
Set the alarm and lock up
Gym ManagerConfirm every door and window is secured, set the alarm, and lock the main entrance before leaving the building.
- 5.13
Log the checklist
Front Desk CoordinatorSign off the opening and closing checklist noting the time completed and any issue found during the shift.
6.Quality checks
- →Safety walk-through is completed and logged before the gym opens to members.
- →AED and first aid kit are confirmed stocked and unexpired at every opening.
- →Facility is confirmed empty of members before any door is locked.
- →Register reconciles with recorded sales within the facility's allowed variance.
7.Records
- →Opening and closing checklist
- →Daily register reconciliation
- →Emergency equipment check log
- →Class schedule and instructor roster
8.KPIs
- →Percentage of opening checklists completed before scheduled opening time
- →Register discrepancy amount per day
- →Time from closing announcement to facility locked
- →Number of emergency equipment issues found at check
9.Common mistakes
- →Opening the floor to members before the safety walk-through is finished.
- →Not checking the AED battery indicator or first aid kit expiration dates.
- →Locking a door before confirming the locker room and pool area are empty.
- →Skipping the checklist sign-off when the shift is busy.
10.Revision history
| Revision | Date | Description | Reviewed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | September 15, 2026 | Initial release | Alexa Uskova |
This is a template. Adapt it to your organization, equipment and local regulations before use.
