GOLF
CAR
NEWS
Golf carts exempted
from new B.C. seat
belt regulation
British Columbia (B.C.), Can-
ada golf course operators
won’t have to install seat belts
and roll bars on their golf
carts, WorkSafeBC says. Stilwell and Doug Clovechok appealed to
Tourism Minister Lisa Beare to consider
the impact of regulations on B.C.’s golf
courses, which compete for business with
Alberta and U.S. golf destinations.
A review of mobile equipment
safety had the industry con-
cerned about millions in extra
costs to retrofit power carts,
not only for employee use but
also players in company and
charity tournaments where
they are technically on the
job. WorkSafeBC clarified this
week that is not the case. WorkSafeBC is required by provincial law
to regularly review its occupational health
and safety regulations, including mobile
equipment standards.
“Golf carts used by the public
would not require seat belts,”
WorksafeBC representative
Ralph Eastman said in a state-
ment provided to Black Press
Media on Friday. “Nor would
other carts used by employ-
ees if the golf course does a
risk assessment and finds that
seat belts and other safety
measures, such as rollover
protection, are not necessary.
“For example, the beverage
cart or a cart used by a course
marshal wouldn’t need to be
retrofitted if it’s not neces-
sary. It’s up to the golf course
to decide this based on their
assessment. They have a
responsibility to ensure a safe
workplace for their employ-
ees, just like any other em-
ployer.”
Golf industry representatives
protested last week that re-
vised regulations appeared to
be too broad, forcing them to
add safety equipment to carts
not designed for them. B.C.
Liberal tourism critics Michelle
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“The Part 16 review of mobile equipment
originated with a number of separate
issues ranging from mobile equipment
guarding, rollover protection for turf care
equipment and utility terrain vehicles,
mobile crane standards and outdated
braking standards for mobile equipment,”
WorkSafeBC said.
Brian Schaal, B.C. representative on the
board of the National Golf Course Owners
Association, said last week he was seeking
to clarify the situation. Modern golf cours-
es use paths with curbs, GPS locators and
speed governors to keep players and staff
safe while driving power carts.