THE IMPORTANCE OF TREADMILL SAFETY KEYS

Virtually all residential treadmills and most commercial treadmills come equipped with some form of safety key assembly that must be used to start the treadmill, like an ignition key does for a car. It consists of a functional end that gets inserted into the treadmill display console or a magnet that attaches to the display console, a clip cord or a tether with a clip that should be attached to the user's clothing about waist high.

This safety key assembly, often called a safety lanyard, is part of a safety mechanism that has been incorporated into the design of your treadmill to avoid or at least minimize injury to the user in the case of a loss of balance, loss of control of the treadmill or the treadmill speeding up on its own unexpectedly. Today, many home treadmills have optional workout programs. When a treadmill is used in a program mode, the speed is subject to change without the user having to depress a "speed up" button on the treadmill's display console. Of course, a treadmill running belt could unexpectedly increase in speed or surge momentarily due to a malfunction of the speed sensor, motor controller or other component. With the safety key clip attached to your clothing, if you fall, the safety key or safety magnet is withdrawn from the treadmill's console, which quickly shuts off the treadmill.

Safety devices on fitness equipment should never be circumvented. The cost of replacing the treadmill's safety magnet assembly is a small price to pay for the safety of yourself and your family or in the case of a commercial fitness center, your clientele.