Besides avoiding broken or damaged equipment, make sure you wear the correct workout clothing and shoes to make the most of your sessions. Also:
If you’re working with weights, lift slowly throughout the movement to maximize its effectiveness. Avoid swinging the weight around, that’s just not cool and can lead to strain or injury.
When you first begin working out, start with lower weights so you can practice the correct form. Once you’ve perfected your form, increase the weights and continue practicing your form. Heavy weights with good form give you great results in a shorter amount of time.