Workstation Fitness Gear in the Office? Great Idea – Until the Liability Hits

So, you are thinking of turning your office into a wellness oasis by adding some workstation exercise equipment. Maybe you are eyeing a few desk treadmills, yoga ball chairs, or even under-desk pedal bikes. It’s modern. It’s mindful. And let’s be honest – it sounds way more exciting than a standard swivel chair.
However, before you trade out your office chairs for resistance bands and balance balls, here’s a reality check: installing exercise equipment at work could bring more risk than reward when it comes to your business insurance. Why?
Because to your insurance carrier, your “health-conscious” upgrade may look less like a wellness initiative and more like a liability waiting to happen.
Let’s break it down.

Table Of Contents

Workstation Fitness Gear in the Office? Great Idea – Until the Liability Hits

1. Workers’ Compensation: A Key Part of Workstation Exercise Equipment Insurance Risks

Workers’ Comp is designed to cover injuries that happen in the course and scope of employment. But what happens when those injuries involve your well-meaning office treadmill or wobbly yoga ball?
Imagine this: An employee takes a quick walking break on a desk treadmill while catching up on emails and trips. Twisted ankle. Doctor visit. Time off. Boom – you’ve got a claim.

Even worse?

To make matters worse, if the equipment wasn’t installed properly or employees weren’t trained on how to use it safely, that Workers’ Comp claim could balloon into something even bigger – potentially exposing your business to additional liability.

This is exactly where workstation exercise equipment insurance risks come into play. You may unintentionally be increasing your exposure under Workers’ Comp without even realizing it.

Moral of the story:

The more moving parts in your office – literally – the more you may want to revisit your Workers’ Comp policy to make sure you are covered if someone gets hurt while “staying healthy.”

2. General Liability: Who’s Liable When a Client Trips on a Cord?

General Liability insurance typically covers third-party bodily injury and property damage. So if a visitor, vendor, or client walks into your office and trips over the power cord of your new under-desk elliptical – guess what? That could turn into a slip-and-fall claim.

And those balance balls?

They look fun until someone loses their, well, balance – and ends up with a lawsuit.
While these may seem like freak accidents, they are not as rare as you’d think. And if you don’t have proper liability coverage in place – or if your office setup creates clear hazards – you could be footing the bill for medical expenses, legal fees, and settlements.

3. Equipment and Electrical Risks: Is Your Office Wired for This?

Let’s talk about cords, outlets, and the silent chaos they can create. Many fitness-focused desks or machines, like treadmills or bikes, must be plugged in.
More plugs = more fire risk.
More cords = more tripping hazards.
And if your office wasn’t built for this kind of load? You might be risking short circuits, outages, or worse.

Insider tip:

Some Business Owner’s Policies (BOPs) include coverage for certain types of property damage caused by electrical issues, but not all. Talk to your broker to see if your current policy could handle a fire caused by your fitness gear.

4. Ergonomics Gone Wrong: A Backache Could Become a Claim

If the equipment you install isn’t ergonomically appropriate for prolonged use (spoiler: most exercise gear isn’t), employees might end up with musculoskeletal issues like wrist pain, shoulder strain, or chronic back problems.
Not only can this reduce productivity, but it could also lead to Workers’ Comp claims or even allegations that your office setup is contributing to a “hostile” or unsafe work environment.
Ergonomics matters. If your employees are using unstable equipment or constantly adjusting their posture to work and move at the same time, it may be time to revisit your “health-first” vision.

5. Legal Liability: Could You Be Found Negligent?

Let’s say you installed the equipment yourself or didn’t offer safety instructions. If someone gets hurt, that’s not just an accident – that could be considered negligence.

And negligence opens the door to lawsuits and claims that standard policies may not fully cover.

To protect your business, you may need to:

Go over your General Liability limits
Update your Business Property (BPP) limit
Revisit your Workers’ Compensation limits
Add waivers or documented training for any office fitness equipment

Because in the legal world, good intentions don’t cancel out poor planning.

A Better Way: Safer Wellness Alternatives That Won’t Jeopardize Your Insurance

You don’t have to scrap the idea of a healthier workplace. You just need to approach it with an insurance-first mindset.

Here are some lower-risk ways to promote movement in the office:

Standing desks or sit-stand converters
Daily stretch breaks or guided breathing sessions
Scheduled walking meetings (no cords, no claims)
Reimbursement for gym memberships or fitness apps
Wellness challenges that keep employees active – outside the office setup

These options support employee health without triggering workstation exercise equipment insurance risks.

Insurance-Proof Your Wellness Plans

Before installing that balance board or treadmill desk, talk with your insurance broker.

You’ll want to make sure you:

Understand your Workers’ Comp exposure
Have enough General Liability protection
Review your Business Owners Policy (BOP) for gaps
Document any workplace changes that could affect coverage

Because protecting your business is just as important as protecting your back. Literally.