Golf Club Health and Safety Policy

The Club is not required to eliminate all risks. Actions proposed should be a question of reasonable balance between what is reasonable based on severity and likelihood and the costs / feasibility of any action proposed.

The Club will take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent injury and ill health, protect members of the public, and comply with applicable UK health and safety legislation and guidance.

Everyone using the Club has a responsibility to act safely and to avoid putting themselves or others at unnecessary risk or in harm’s way.

2. Responsibilities

The Club’s management committee has overall responsibility for ensuring that suitable health and safety arrangements are established, implemented and reviewed.

The Club Manager or designated responsible person will coordinate day-to-day health and safety matters, including risk assessments, assessment reviews, incident reporting, inspections, staff training, contractor arrangements and emergency procedures.

Employees and volunteers must follow Club procedures, use equipment correctly, attend required training and report hazards, defects, incidents and near misses promptly.

The Club will maintain staff training records to ensure that only those staff trained are asked to carry out appropriately tasks.

Members, visitors and guests must follow Club rules and reasonable instructions from Club staff.

They must take reasonable care of their own safety and that of other people affected by their actions.

Contractors and visiting professionals must comply with the Club’s safety requirements and provide appropriate evidence of competence, insurance and risk controls where requested.

No person should undertake work or operate equipment for which they are not appropriately trained, competent or authorised.

The Club or its Directors shall take responsibility to disseminate safety information, Club rules and any necessary instructions. This includes notifying members and staff of any particular risks which may affect them in their visits or work.

3. Risk assessment

The Club will maintain suitable risk assessments for significant activities and areas of the premises.    

These will be reviewed annually and whenever there is a significant change, accident, near miss or other reason to believe that existing controls may no longer be adequate.

Risk assessments will consider hazards including:

• Course layout

• Golfing hazards on the course

• Those on a driving range / practice area if appropriate

• Golf balls and clubs.

• Golf carts and other vehicles.

• Course maintenance machinery.

• Slips, trips and falls.

• Steep slopes, banks, steps and uneven terrain.

• Water hazards, ponds and ditches.

• Trees, branches and falling objects.

• Adverse weather, including lightning, high winds, snow, ice and extreme heat.

• Pesticides, chemicals, fertilisers, fuels and other hazardous substances and their application.

• Manual handling.

• Electrical equipment and installations.

• Fire.

• Working at Heights

• Lone working.

• Alcohol and drug related behaviour.

• Contractors and construction or maintenance work.

• Emergency access and first aid.

• Risks to children and vulnerable people.

Appropriate control measures will be communicated to employees and, where appropriate, members and visitors.

4. Golf course safety

Players must behave responsibly and observe current Club’s Rules, the Rules of Golf and Local Rules at all times.

Players must not play a shot when there is a foreseeable risk of striking another person. Particular care must be taken where another fairway, tee, path, maintenance area or public route is within the potential range of a shot.

Where a ball may endanger another person or property, the player must give an appropriate warning by shouting “FORE” loudly and clearly and must take reasonable steps to warn affected people bearing in mind any background noise.

Where a ball may disappear from the sight of the player making the shot, the player must give the appropriate warning by shouting “FORE” loudly and clearly and must take reasonable steps to warn affected people bearing in mind any background noise.

Players should comply with any safety or warning signage, including priority of play signs, if erected on the Club’s premises including the golf course, practice facilities and other areas within the boundary of the Club’s premises.

Players should remain alert to other golfers, greenkeepers, contractors and members of the public.

Greenkeepers and other authorised workers have priority where their work requires players to wait or stop play.

Players must not enter areas marked as closed or restricted. Temporary closures may be introduced because of maintenance, weather, ground conditions, flooding or other safety concerns.

The Club may suspend or restrict play where conditions present an unacceptable risk.

5. Golf carts and vehicles

Golf carts must only be operated by people who are authorised to use them and who are capable of doing so safely.

Operators must comply with Club buggy rules, manufacturer instructions and any course restrictions.

No person under the age of 18 shall drive a golf cart.

Carts must be driven at an appropriate speed and with particular caution on slopes, around buildings, near greens and tees, and in wet or slippery conditions.

Passengers must remain seated while the buggy is moving. Operators must not carry more passengers or equipment than the buggy is designed to accommodate.

Where seat belts are provided in the vehicle the use is mandatory.

Carts must not be driven while the operator is impaired by alcohol, drugs, fatigue or any other condition affecting safe control.

The Club may restrict buggy use during adverse weather or when course conditions make their use unsafe.

Cars and other vehicles must be driven cautiously within the Club grounds.

Speed limits and designated parking arrangements must be observed, and emergency routes must be kept clear.

6. Maintenance operations

Course maintenance activities can involve significant risks. Machinery must only be operated by suitably trained and competent personnel.

Where maintenance work creates a risk to golfers, staff or visitors, appropriate warning signs, barriers, exclusion zones or other controls must be used.

Unauthorised persons must not approach or interfere with operating machinery unless authorised to do so.

Maintenance staff should avoid working in a manner that unnecessarily exposes themselves or others to moving vehicles, machinery, flying debris or other foreseeable hazards.

Defective machinery or equipment must be taken out of service until it has been appropriately inspected, repaired or otherwise made safe.

Machinery shall only be operated in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.

Lone working shall be avoided wherever possible.

Working at heights and with machinery such as chainsaws shall only be executed by appropriately qualified personnel.

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER 22).

The 2022 Personal Protective Equipment at Work (amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER 22) extended employers’ and employees’ duties regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) to limb (b) workers. 

Under employment law in the UK, the definition of a worker has 2 parts: 

• Limb (a) describes employees who work under a contract of employment. 

• Limb (b) describes workers who generally have a more casual employment status and work under a contract for service, such as freelance couriers, casual agency staff, and some zero-hour contract staff in the gig economy.   

It is important to understand what the status of all workers is and what PPE is required by the Regulations.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 

As electrification of maintenance machinery increases, it is vital that staff are given the necessary training and that the necessary policies are in place to ensure both worker and golfer safety.

7. Hazardous substances

There is a strict no smoking policy in the maintenance building, yard and parking area in order to avoid accidents with flammable substances.

The Club will assess and control risks associated with hazardous substances, including fuels, pesticides, fertilisers, cleaning products and other chemicals.

Substances must be stored securely, labelled appropriately and handled in accordance with relevant safety information and manufacturer instructions.

Only trained and authorised personnel may use pesticides or other substances requiring specialist competence or certification. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be provided and used where required.

Chemical storage areas must be kept secure and away from unauthorised access. Spills must be dealt with promptly using appropriate procedures, with environmental and personal safety considered.

Mixing of chemicals for application shall be carried out on a mixing pad which shall be drained to the pollution control mechanism.

8. Slips, trips and falls

The Club will take reasonable measures to keep walkways, stairs, entrances, car parks and other pedestrian areas in a safe condition.

Spillages, damaged surfaces, trailing cables and other hazards must be reported immediately and, where reasonably practicable, isolated or corrected.

Members and visitors should take particular care during wet, icy or otherwise hazardous conditions.

Suitable warning signs should be used where temporary hazards cannot immediately be removed.

9. Weather and environmental conditions

Weather conditions can create particular risks on a golf course. The Club will monitor conditions and may introduce temporary restrictions or close facilities where necessary at the sole discretion of the Club.

During thunderstorms, players and visitors should follow Club instructions and seek appropriate shelter.

Play should not continue where lightning presents a significant danger. The Club will maintain an audible warning system and where this is activated golfers shall return to the Clubhouse.

During periods of high temperatures, individuals should take appropriate precautions, including drinking sufficient fluids, seeking shade and avoiding unnecessary exposure to excessive heat.

During high winds, users should be aware of the risks associated with falling branches and other unsecured objects. Areas affected by dangerous conditions may be closed.

During frost, snow or ice, the Club may close paths, areas of the course or the entire course where conditions cannot be managed safely.

10. Fire safety

The Club will maintain a suitable fires risk assessment. Fire safety arrangements for the clubhouse and other relevant buildings shall be maintained. Fire alarms will exist in all buildings.

Fire exits, escape routes and fire doors must be kept clear at all times. Fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment must only be used by people who are competent and, where doing so, does not place them at unnecessary risk.

Everyone must familiarise themselves with the location of emergency exits and follow instructions during a fire or evacuation. Any visitors or employees shall evacuate to the nearest assembly point. It is the responsibility of all visitors and employees to ensure that they are aware of the appropriate assembly point.

The use of naked flames is prohibited in areas where they are not permitted. Any suspected fire must be reported immediately and the emergency services contacted where appropriate.

The Club will maintain suitable arrangements for evacuation, assembly and accounting for staff and visitors.

11. First aid and emergencies

The Club will provide appropriate first-aid arrangements based on its activities and risk assessments. First-aid equipment will be maintained and accessible.

A first aid trained member of staff shall be available whenever the Club is open to guests and in case of accidents. Staff members with designated first-aid responsibilities will have received appropriate training.

All serious injuries, emergencies and incidents must be reported to Club management as soon as reasonably practicable. Emergency services should be contacted immediately where the circumstances require urgent medical, fire or police assistance.

Emergency contact information and the Club’s location should be readily available to staff so that emergency services can be directed to the correct access point.

12. Incident and near-miss reporting

All accidents, injuries, dangerous occurrences and significant near misses must be reported to the Club.

The Clun management shall create a report containing sufficient information to identify what happened, where it happened, who was involved and what immediate action was taken.

The Club will investigate significant incidents where appropriate. The purpose of investigation is to identify causes, improve controls and prevent recurrence rather than to assign blame.

Where an incident is legally reportable, the Club will comply with applicable reporting requirements.

13. Children and vulnerable people

The Club will take reasonable steps to protect children and vulnerable people using its facilities.

Junior activities, coaching and competitions must be appropriately supervised, and relevant safeguarding procedures must be followed.

Adults working with children or vulnerable people must comply with the Club’s safeguarding requirements and any applicable legal or governing-body requirements.

Concerns about welfare, abuse, neglect or inappropriate conduct must be reported through the Club’s safeguarding procedures.

Trespassing by children shall be reported to the Club management as soon as it is witnessed.

14. Alcohol, drugs and responsible behaviour

Alcohol may only be consumed in accordance with the Club’s licensing arrangements and rules.

No person should operate machinery, drive a golf buggy or undertake any safety-critical activity while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Aggressive, threatening, abusive or otherwise dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated. The Club may remove individuals from the premises, cancel memberships or restrict access where necessary to protect others.

15. Contractors and visitors

Contractors must comply with Club safety procedures and any site-specific instructions.

Where appropriate, contractors will be required to provide evidence of suitable competence, insurance, risk assessments and method statements before undertaking higher-risk work.

Visitors must follow instructions from Club staff and comply with signs and safety restrictions.

Areas containing maintenance, construction or other hazards must be suitably segregated from members and visitors.

Contractors shall be treated as having priority on the golf course.

16. Training, communication and review

The Club will provide employees and relevant volunteers with information, instruction and training appropriate to their responsibilities.

Safety information will be communicated through appropriate methods, which may include staff briefings, notices, signage, Club communications, induction arrangements and documented procedures.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if there is a significant incident, change in activities, change in premises or relevant change in legislation or guidance.

The Club will be responsible for disseminating all appropriate safety or risk information to employees, members and visitors

The Club will encourage a positive safety culture in which hazards and concerns can be raised without fear of unreasonable criticism or retaliation.

17. Statement of commitment

Safety is a shared responsibility. The Club will provide appropriate systems, information and controls, but no policy can remove every risk associated with golf.

Everyone using the Club is expected to exercise reasonable care, follow safety instructions, never putting themselves knowingly in harm’s way, report hazards and behave responsibly.

The management committee will monitor the effectiveness of this policy and will take reasonable steps to ensure that the Club’s facilities and activities remain safe for employees, members, visitors, contractors and the wider public.

Approved by: Club Management Committee
Date: __________________
Next review: __________________