Golf Cart Safety

Fact Sheet
G
olf carts are an increasingly
popular mode of
transportation at large
worksites and complexes.
Employees use golf carts for
delivering mail, tools, and supplies
around the workplace, and for
transporting individuals with
disabilities. However, driving these
low-speed vehicles (LSVs) around
busy areas can present dangers.
With more workplaces using golf
carts, accidents are on the rise. The
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) reports over
130 work-related incidents resulting
in citations, injuries, and death
associated with golf cart use.
The increased power and lack of
Table 1. Primary causes of U.S. golf cart-related injuries
safety regulations on golf carts are likely adding
to rising rates of accidents. Most golf cart injuries Cause of injury Percentage of cases
happen when someone is thrown from the vehicle, Fell/jumped from cart 38.3
involved in a rollover, or struck by a golf cart. Struck/run over by cart 16.2
Collision with a vehicle or object 9.6
Common injuries include concussions, fractures, Cart overturned 8.9
respiratory complications, neck injuries, and spinal Injury getting into or out of cart 4.9
injuries. With these hazards in mind, there are Injury to protruding limb 3.2
steps a company can take to reduce the risks. Other/not specified 18.9

Golf cart safety statement Operational rules

Write a safety statement, sign it, and place it in a List rules for golf cart operations, including
location for all to see. Include policies to manage procedures specific to your company’s needs. Here
and maintain equipment, and ensure employees are some examples:
safely operate the carts. When management
shows an interest in preventing accidents and •Supervisor’s approval is needed for employees
providing a safe workplace, employees are more to operate golf carts.
likely to do the same. A sample company safety
statement may include: •Employees must receive training and approval
before operating golf carts.
“This company strives to maintain a safe
workplace. Accident and injury prevention •Contract employees, trainees, and visitors may
is an important part of our job. Safety is not operate golf carts.
everyone’s responsibility. We can achieve
our safety goals with regular training, •Golf cart use is limited to employees whose
inspections, and maintenance. It is the policy duties require walking significant distances,
of this company to protect our employees, transporting specific passengers, or hauling
equipment, facilities, and grounds. specific equipment.
Employees operating golf carts must be •Towing is limited to golf carts designated for
trained in safe operations of the vehicles, hauling.
authorized to drive the carts, and aware
of others when driving any vehicle in the •Golf carts cannot cross public roads.
workplace.”
 Table 2. Golf cart-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments (1990-2006*)
Description Cases Weighted estimate Percentage

Age (years)
Children (<16) 1169 46,117 31.2
Adults (≥16) 2243 101,578 68.8
Gender
Male 2178 93,264 63.1
Female 1234 54,432 36.9
Diagnosis
Soft Tissue Injurya 1553 70,523 47.7
Fracture 798 32,914 22.3
Laceration/amputation 494 22,926 15.8
Concussion 86 3,176 2.2
Internal Organ Injury 217 6,412 4.3
Otherb 264 11,745 7.7
Body-part injured
Head/neckc 856 33,262 22.5
Trunkd 539 24,624 16.7
Arme 715 32,959 22.3
Legf 1226 53,948 36.5
Otherg 76 2,903 2.0
Disposition
Treated/released 3052 135,278 91.6
Hospitalizedh 340 11,544 7.8
*Am J Prev Med 2008;35(1) dIncludes upper trunk, lower trunk, shoulder
aIncludes sprain, strain, contusion, abrasion, hematoma eIncludes upper arm, lower arm, elbow, wrist, hand, finger
bIncludes burns, crushing, dislocation, foreign body, dental injury, puncture, fIncludes upper leg, lower leg, knee, ankle, foot, toe
hemorrhage, electric shock, submersion, avulsion, not documented gIncludes pubic region, injury to ≥20% of body, not documented
cIncludes head, neck, face, mouth, ear, eye hIncludes admitted, transferred, held <24 hours for observation

Operator training •Never reverse downhill.

To help prevent workplace accidents, train all employees •Use caution when driving over wet, muddy, steep, or
who operate golf carts before vehicle use. Supervisors uneven ground.
should oversee training and approval. Place the
trainee’s name, title, department, date of training, and •Never operate a golf cart under the influence of
supervisor’s signature in the employee’s file. Employees alcohol or drugs.
approved to drive golf carts should review golf cart
safety procedures at hire and annually to reinforce •Place the golf cart control lever in neutral and
expected behaviors. Any employee who sees unsafe remove the key when not in use.
driving must report the driver to management. •Lock the brake before exiting the golf cart.
Safety procedures •Limit the number of people in the golf cart to the
amount recommended.
Create safety procedures based on the area, the total
weight of passengers or tow loads, maximum speeds •Install seatbelts in golf carts and require driver and
allowed, weather conditions, and manufacturer’s passenger use.
recommendations. Safety procedures may include:
•Approach steep or uneven ground vertically to avoid
•Keep legs, feet, and arms inside the golf cart. tipping or sliding off a golf cart.
•Drivers and passengers must remain seated while the •Drive on sidewalks when transporting equipment to
vehicle is moving. or from a worksite.
 •Yield to pedestrians. Pull off the sidewalk or When recharging electric golf cart batteries,
stop when approaching pedestrians. use approved chargers designed to shut off
automatically when fully charged, and remember
•Do not drive while distracted (eating, talking on to disconnect battery charger cords before using
cell phones, texting, wearing headphones of any the golf cart. In case of battery acid spills, pour
type, reaching for objects, etc.). baking soda on the acid before cleaning, and wash
skin exposed to battery acid thoroughly. Never
•Reduce speed when taking sharp turns or
smoke or have an open flame near a battery
entering doorways.
charging station.
•Operate at speeds equal to a well-paced walk,
no faster than 15 mph. Conclusion
•Slow down and honk the horn at intersections. Worksites that allow golf cart use can help prevent
cart-related injuries by requiring operator training,
•Use safety mirrors at intersections to ensure creating rules and safety procedures, inspecting
pedestrian safety. vehicles often, and scheduling maintenance
regularly. These steps are vital in the workplace to
•Never block emergency equipment, aisles, help prevent accidents.
doorways, or intersections when parked.
•Store golf carts with a cable and lock.
•Report any accidents or damage to a
supervisor immediately.

Regular inspections and

Safety Violations Hotline
maintenance 1-800-452-9595
safetyhotline@[Link]
Golf carts must be inspected, maintained, and
documented regularly to improve safety and
reduce the risks of accidents. Before each use, The Texas Department of Insurance,
operators should check for fluid leaks, correct tire Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)
inflation, and properly working brakes, steering, E-mail resourcecenter@[Link]
or call 1-800-687-7080 for more information.
horn, and acceleration.
Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation
[Link]
HS05-028B (06/19)
 Review Questions
1. Supervisors are responsible for training employees
on the safe operation of golf carts. True or False?
2. Golf carts always have the right-of-way. True or
False?
3. How often should golf cart inspections happen?

Answers
1. True. Supervisors are
responsible for ensuring
operators complete golf cart
training before driving the vehicle.
2. False. Pedestrians always have
the right-of-way. If operated
on a sidewalk, the cart operator
must pull off the sidewalk or stop
the golf cart when approaching
pedestrians.
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted, this document was produced by the Texas
Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)-Workplace
3. Inspect the golf cart before Safety using information from staff subject specialists, government entities, or
each use. other authoritative sources. Information contained in this fact sheet is considered
accurate at the time of publication

Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation

[Link]
HS05-028B (06/19)