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How to Keep Golf Carts on a Safe Course
With the 2008 U.S. Open just days away, I'd like to reprise an article I wrote two years ago on the issue of golf cart safety. So strap in and let's head to the first tee.
Golf Carts Aren't Just for Golfers
I don't play golf. Nor, I suspect, do a lot of you. It doesn't matter. This story isn't just about golf. That's because golf carts are no longer just on golf courses. You see them all over--on campuses, large plant facilities and in warehouses. They're also typically used as work vehicles to transport workers and equipment from one building or job site to another.
So safe use of golf carts is an important topic. This is especially true when you consider that workers have a tendency to view them as toys and ride around on them without worrying about the danger.
But golf carts are dangerous. They can tip over, tumble down damp hills and collide with other vehicles. Golf cart fatalities have included strangulation, drowning and head trauma.
Share these golf cart tips with your employees to help them protect themselves, their passengers and their co-workers.
Before You Drive
- Make sure the horn, brakes and lights work.
- Check the back-up alarm, tire pressure and battery fluid.
- Before packing up, ensure the area behind you is clear of all obstacles, including vehicles and pedestrians.
When You Drive
- Drive only in designated areas and stay off city streets.
- Drive beside pedestrian walkways (not on them).
- Observe all standard rules of the road, such as coming to a complete stop at stop signs, signaling before a turn and keeping to the right, except to pass.
- Yield to other vehicles and pedestrians.
- Don't drive faster than a quick-paced walk.
- Slow down in wet conditions, on steep slopes, when approaching corners, intersections or blind spots, and in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic.
- Slow down for speed bumps and uneven pavement. Keep off curbs.
- To avoid tipping, drive the cart straight up and straight down slopes - not on a diagonal.
- Don't drive while distracted. If something other than driving the cart has your attention, stop the vehicle. This includes eating, talking on a cell phone or jotting down notes.
Passenger Safety
- Observe passenger limits. Only two people should ride in a two-person cart and four in a four-person cart.
- Wear the seatbelt and make sure passengers wear theirs.
- Don't stand up in a moving golf cart and don't let your passengers either.
Stopping and Parking
- Don't park in front of emergency exists, fire hydrants, fire lanes, sidewalks, ramps or doors.
- When parking, set the brake, place the cart in neutral and remove the key.
- Secure the parked golf cart with a cable or other locking mechanism.
Transporting Goods
If the golf cart is used to transport equipment, there are some special safety rules to consider:
- Transport materials during periods of low traffic and pedestrian activity
- Don't overload the cart. Take only the bare minimum.
- Make sure the materials are securely fastened.
- Loads should not extend more than a foot from either side or front of the golf cart.
- Use brightly colored material to flag any loads that extend more than three feet (one meter) from the rear of the cart.
Conclusion
Of course, these tips also apply to golf cart recreational use. Treat a golf cart as you would any motor vehicle -with care and attention.
HEALTH & SAFETY QUIZ
 |
| The flea's size belies its power |
Name That Monster
Question: What can:
- Jump 150 times its own length?
- Consume 15 times its own body weight in blood every day?
- Lie dormant - without food - for several months?
- Reproduce within 36 to 48 hours after its first meal?
- Transmit two types of bubonic plague?
Answer: The tiny but mighty flea.
As temperatures rise, so does the possibility of flea infestations. These little blood-suckers not only torment your cats and dogs, they also pose a health concern to your human family members. To see if you have fleas in your home, take a walk through the house in white socks and watch for the 1/25-1/4 inch cling-ons. If you see just one flea, chances are there are more than 100 of its blood-sucking friends and relations nearby. To rid your home of fleas:
- Thoroughly wash your pet's bedding. Better still, throw it out.
- Talk to your vet about safely treating your pet for fleas.
- Prevent re-infestation by using a flea control program in your garage, porch and yard.
- Thoroughly vacuum your carpets, rugs, floors and baseboards
- Place the used vacuum bag in an airtight plastic bag and get it into the outdoor trashcan immediately.
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