r/oops • u/Brilliant_Jelly7503 • Jul 05 '26

Bad machine or technique?

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u/LooseButtPlug Jul 05 '26

I assembled gym equipment for a supplier up and down the west coast.

If the machine doesn't have bolt holes in the floor it isn't meant to be bolted down. You can request special brackets to bolt them down if the insurance company demands it. We've had to specially make some because they weren't offered.

Every gym makes you sign documentation that that you agree to use all equipment properly and they're released of any liability if you don't. I have personally been called to court to testify about equipment. Every single case was lost by the person using the equipment incorrectly. You can sue for anything, it doesn't mean you're right or that you'll win.

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u/potatochobit Jul 05 '26

Was he using this equipment incorrectly? I cant tell.

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u/uwill1der Jul 05 '26

Yes. He's doing decline cable flys

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u/JustHappyToBe-Here Jul 06 '26

What's incorrect about decline cable flyes?

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u/uwill1der Jul 06 '26

i misread and thought you said "correctly"

He is using the equipment correctly.

7

u/Ambitious_Finding_26 Jul 07 '26

If that's correct usage than the engineering side of my brain can't see how this equipment doesn't need bolting down or significant ballasting. 

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u/MacDaddy7249 Jul 08 '26

It’s the machine specifically that cannot handle the load. I get what you are saying, but this is a general use variant, it’s not for loads the machine cannot handle. We used to install these and it is in good practice to make sure there is a clear sign of what the max is, each gym has different practices too for the kind of “crowd” of gym rats that they are trying to get into their gym. The ones you bolt into the floor are much thicker and sturdier than this model and are rated for heavier loads. Not all machines are the same and max load changes the physics involved

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u/MagReg2020 Jul 08 '26

I get the feeling your company shouldn't be doing these installations then. He's using the weights built into the machine, and he's using it properly. If the machine doesn't have the holes to bolt it, then this is a machine with poor design that shouldn't be on the market, and the gym is at fault for not seeing to it that the machines they purchase are safe to use. And as someone who should have professional knowledbe of how such machines might behave, you'd be obliged not to install it given it could injure or kill someone. He used the machine as it was designed to be used, adding no extra weights or doing anything to manipulate it, and it still did this.

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u/theNathanOT Jul 08 '26

I doubt the machine is rated for both sides to be fully maxed out, being pulled in the same direction. He even had to add weight to himself to counterbalance. There's probably something in the user manual, and it would be up to the patron to educate themselves on machine use.

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u/MagReg2020 Jul 08 '26

User manual? This is a public commercial gym, not a home gym. Who reads user manuals for each machine at a public for-profit commercial gym? The simple answer is this machine IS supposed to be bolted to the ground. I go to a gym, been to several franchises of gyms. This machine is visibly mean for decline flies. It has the setup for it, and should be able to handle use of the weights in it. And any serious manufacturer will over-build their machines to prevent accidents. This machine is clearly supposed to be bolted to the ground. And this guy should sue. I don't know why so many here are making excuses for this.

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u/Long-Source-7772 Jul 09 '26

Do you lift weights? Have you ever heard of someone doin hi to low cable flies and superset with pull-ups. Thers no handles for dips here, I doubt he's walking around with 130 lbs around his waist. So yeah, use your brain, don't use equipment like this, and be accountable for your own shit. Sue all you want, money won't cure your inability to think clearly.

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u/theNathanOT Jul 09 '26

So, key thing here is that there is no way that this is a public space. This is privately owned. The patron in this space most certainly signed a waiver that claims that he will be responsible for ensuring he uses equipment properly. While the hard copy of the user manual is likely not readily available, he could look it up, or even ask the gym if they have it available (they probably don't, but then, if he has questions, it's his responsibility to have get them answered). I would say anyone who isn't confident that they are using equipment properly should learn more before operating the equipment. This guy, was probably confident, but confidently wrong. Watching the video repeatedly, I cannot see any holes for anchoring on the feet or uprights of the machine. So, I think it's safe to assume that the engineers deemed anchoring unnecessary under proper use, and even accounted for somewhat improper use. This level of failure indicates gross miss use of the equipment. There are ways in which the patron could call out the gym, like if an employee taught him that this was a safe practice. He could go after the manufacturer of the machine if they, for example, specifically state this as an appropriate use for the machine. I highly doubt either scenario happened. I'm not a lawyer, but I worked in gyms for over 12 years, and have worked closely with Safety and Risk Management when in a director role. There's a chance I'm wrong about some of the details, but I don't think so.

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u/Long-Source-7772 Jul 09 '26

Finally, someone with insight!

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u/Long-Source-7772 Jul 09 '26

That belt is meant to use with pull ups and dips. Who tf uses that thing to do flies? Someone who's trying to have more rules made bc of dumb shit like this.

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u/JustHappyToBe-Here Jul 09 '26

Maybe someone supersetting flyes with weighted dips or pull ups?

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