To many people, a golf car is a vehicle that’s convenient and easy-to-use. However, this type of vehicle does not have the same safety and performance features that a standard passenger car has. Therefore, a golf car requires different driving behaviors.
It is important that only trained, authorized employees operate golf cars since unsafe operation can lead to accidents which may result in personal injuries, death, or property damage. These same qualifications should be applied to employees responsible for repairing or maintaining a golf car since proper inspections and repairs are key factors in vehicle safety.
OSHA does not have a specific regulation for golf car use in the workplace. However, OSHA still holds employers responsible for ensuring their safe use under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, which says that employers must use “one or more methods” to protect workers from “serious and recognized hazards.”
Note: Voluntary national consensus standards, such as ANSI/ILTVA Z130.1, as well as manufacturers’ recommendations can sometimes be relevant to a general duty clause citation in the sense that the consensus standard and manufacturers’ recommendations may be used as evidence of industry hazard recognition and the availability of feasible means of abatement
Even though golf cars are used in many industrial workplaces to haul materials, golf cars are considered by design to be recreational vehicles and are exempt from OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.178, Powered Industrial Truck standard. OSHA considers the design of the vehicle as the determining factor of whether or not equipment is considered a powered industrial truck, rather than the manner in which it is utilized. See a June 27, 2011, OSHA Letter of Interpretation.
As noted above, OSHA does not have specific requirements for golf cars. However, the Agency expects employers to ensure their safe use in the workplace. To keep workers and pedestrians safe, consider the following best practices: