Risk management plan can prevent accidents, litigation

Golf Course News, Apr 2002 by Horton, Ted

Editorial Focus: Safety and Accesories

Golf can be a dangerous sport and the potential for danger from negligent design and maintenance exists on many courses. Golf car mishaps, environmental concerns, slips and falls throughout the property, maintenance equipment accidents and exposure to weather can all result in serious injury to golfers, guests and employees.

Considering our litigious society and the fact that insurance rates have escalated since Sept. 11, it has become even more important to implement a sound risk management program to help prevent injuries and property damage, as well as to protect against liability.

Courses should first inventory areas of potential liability. These include four basic areas: premises, operations, vehicles and natural causes. By no means is the following list all-encompassing. Examine your own operations and list every possibility for exposure to accident or injury and review the checklist quarterly.

PREMISES

Risks are abundant throughout a golf course property both on and off the course.

* Examine course design for defects. Are balls entering private properties, roads or adjacent holes? Are there blind tee shots, dangerous doglegs or other places of concern? Are waiting areas adjacent to tees safe? Remember that 85 percent of the golf shots are usually 15 percent off line and that equipment and golf ball improvements result in even longer distances today.

* Ventilation systems in golf car storage buildings, acid storage, battery disposal, energy management and equipment wash facilities are all areas for potential accidents.

* Are golf car paths appropriately located, designed, engineered, constructed and maintained? Is speed controlled and are warning signs posted at hills?

* Pedestrian paths, steps and bridges need to be free from trip and slip hazards.

* Trees are a source of numerous accidents on courses. Inspections should monitor the potential for eye injury from low-hanging branches as well as injury from falling branches.

* Practice range accidents can occur if the range is improperly designed, maintained and operated. Are tee stations adequately separated, are protective barriers in place, and are participants properly controlled?

OPERATIONS

Proper maintenance procedures are required to present the golf course for play, but risk management and safety should be of equal importance.

* Environmental concerns relative to pesticides, fertilizers, water quality and quantity and energy need to be addressed. ,Misuse or abuse of these materials can lead to serious damage and significant exposure to liability.

* Golf course construction projects may be a source of accidents. Are open trenches properly marked? Is every care taken when digging around utilities? Are trenches protected against cave-in? Is your golf course's equipment adequate for the task?

* Waste management and recycling in an appropriate manner can prevent environmental contamination.

* Safety training for general maintenance operations such as mowing, fertilization, irrigation, aerification and topdressing is important for accident prevention.

* Personal protective equipment must be provided, fitted and used when required. Current Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies could potentially result in heavy fines being imposed on employers who don't follow the requirements to provide workers with hard hats, goggles, fit-tested respirators and safety spray suits, and other protective gear needed for personal protection.

* Repetitive-motion problems are common in golf course maintenance operations. Precautions to avoid injury to employees who hold their wrists, arms or shoulders in odd positions or who frequently perform the same tasks continuously for long periods need to be in place.

VEHICLES

Drivers and passengers of utility vehicles and golf cars need to follow the same precautions as one would in their own motor vehicles.

* Is there a program to verify that state operators licenses are current before the employee is permitted to drive company vehicles on public roads?

* Golf cars carry enormous liability. Be sure that there is a program in place to review and service vehicles prior to each use. Problem vehicles should be kept out-of-service until repaired.

* Employees should be carefully trained before using utility vehicles.

EMERGENCIES, NATURAL DISASTERS AND WEATHER

Preparing to manage unforeseen emergencies is the first and most important step to recovery, should a disaster strike.

* Having written emergency response guidelines ensures that employees understand their duties and responsibilities and may significantly reduce liability in the event of a natural disaster.

* Defibrillators belong on golf courses where cardiac arrests occur. It may soon be a greater liability risk for businesses that fail to purchase and use automated external defibrillators.

* Employees and guests should be adequately trained in fire safety and prevention programs.

* Employees and golfers need to be educated about heat stroke, sunburn and the danger of skin cancer.