We were recently engaged by a golf club to conduct a full risk assessment (RA) at the facility and to develop a safety statement arising from the RA. It was a very interesting exercise. We looked at the golf club from three perspectives: The clubhouse, the course and the maintenance yard.
The clubhouse threw-up the normal risks associated with a premises with a bar, food preparation areas, kitchen and public areas. One exception to the norm was the presence of compressed air. Compressed air is used by the members to blow grass and dirt off their golf shoes, trolleys and carts. Risk management protocols needed to be considered with this risk.
The course was also interesting to assess. Some of the identified risks included water hazards, steep banks, over-head power cables, presence of chemicals on the fairways and greens, maintenance staff operating on the course and of course the odd stray golf ball!
The maintenance yard is where the serious business of a golf course takes place. A myriad of mowers, strimmers, sprayers, pesticides, fertilisers and fuels all operate from the maintenance yard. The associated risks needed to be identified with appropriate mitigation plans put in place to ensure the safety of the maintenance staff, members and visitors using the golf course and the general environment.
Risk is inherent in almost every activity we undertake. Identifying the risks and properly mitigating against them is in everyone’s interest.
For advice on conducting a risk assessment at your premises and updating your safety statement, make contact with Cuttle Consulting on www.cuttleconsulting.ie.