Safety, Screening, and Injury Risk Management
Screening before loading
The Safety, Screening, and Injury Risk Management domain tests whether you can decide who needs medical clearance, identify red flags, and set up a safe training space. It is not a medical diagnosis domain; your job is risk stratification and referral.
Core rules
- Use a PAR-Q+ or similar readiness questionnaire; refer clients with chest pain, unexplained dizziness, uncontrolled blood pressure, recent surgery, or pregnancy-related concerns to a physician before training.
- Screen movements that mirror the demands: overhead reach, deep squat, hip hinge, single-leg stance, wrist extension, and loaded carry. Note pain, asymmetry, and control, not just range.
- Clear the training area: stable floor, enough space for the bell path, no trip hazards, chalk, and appropriate footwear. Competition-style bells and cast-iron bells have different handle and drop considerations.
- Grip safety: dry hands, neutral wrist in rack, and no “death grip” during swings. Calluses can tear; file them and use chalk sparingly.
- Stop the set when technique degrades. Ballistic lifts do not require grinding reps to failure.
Worked example
A new client reports occasional low-back tightness and wants snatches. Reasoning: first screen the hinge and overhead position; if the hinge rounds or the overhead reach causes shoulder pain, do not start with snatches. Begin with deadlifts, goblet squats, and two-hand swings; add cleans and presses only after the hinge and rack are controlled. Document the decision and refer out for persistent pain.
Traps
- Diagnosing an injury or clearing a client medically.
- Screening only with a questionnaire and no movement observation.
- Allowing a bell to be dropped in an unsafe area.
- Progressing load while the wrist or spine position is lost.