Yes. Golf clubs and event organisers should assess the health and safety risks associated with organised golf events and competitions. Where the event forms part of an employer’s undertaking, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require suitable and sufficient Risk Assessments covering risks to employees and other people who may be affected by the activities.
This is particularly important where an event changes normal course arrangements or involves increased numbers of players, spectators, staff or volunteers.
A Risk Assessment for a golf event should consider factors such as:
- Increased player and spectator numbers on the course
- Temporary layouts or course changes for the event
- Traffic management, including buggies and maintenance vehicles
- Weather conditions and emergency procedures
- Public access areas and crowd movement
- First aid provision and emergency response arrangements
- Any additional hazards created by temporary equipment, structures or event activities
Additional controls may include marshals, signage, restricted access areas, adjusted tee times, temporary barriers or changes to vehicle arrangements, depending on the scale and nature of the event.
Risk Assessments should be completed as part of the event planning process and reviewed if there is reason to suspect they are no longer valid or if there is a significant change to the arrangements, such as changes to the course, activities, numbers of people or operating conditions.
You can view the full range of our ‘Risk Assessments’ here