Time to have another chat about proper use of the equipment. In the last few weeks we have had a bar damaged and a hole knocked through the wall, both the direct result of bars with only 10 pound plates on them being dropped from overhead. I can’t emphasize enough that if you feel like there is ANY possibility of hurting yourself on a lift you should immediately drop the bar, that is why we use bumper plates in the first place. Dropping bars however, regardless of what plates are on them, for any other reason just shortens the life of both the bar and the bumper.
Dropping a bar with only 10 pound plates on it is rarely necessary and will always result in the bar “jumping” away from you. When the plates land they are too thin so they flex and rebound, driving the bar sideways. So far we’ve only had a bar and the wall damaged, it could just as easily have been someone’s ankle. Don’t let laziness or ignorance lead to someone else getting hurt (or my equipment getting damaged)! If you must drop a bar with 10′s, control it to the floor to prevent it jumping. If you have any questions on how to do that properly or safely please ask one of the trainers.