Worksafe has shut down a Dunedin golf club's main argument for banning non-golfers from its course.
This comes after a submission from Chisholm Links calling on the council to ban members of the public from the course prompted a backlash from non-golfers who use the course.
The submission cited the potential for the club to be held liable under new health and safety legislation as one of the reasons why non-golfers should be banned.
"It is only a matter of time before a member of the public is seriously injured or killed through being struck by a golf ball,'' its submission said.
However, Worksafe - the government agency that will be in charge of implementing the Health and Safety at Work Act when it comes into force next month - contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday to set the record straight.
"I note Chisholm Links board chairman Dave Watson says the club's main concern was the potential for it to held liable if someone gets hit by a ball, and that this was a ‘grey area'.
"I can assure you there is no grey area.
"There is nothing in the Health and Safety at Work Act that will prevent golfers enjoying a round or members of the public strolling/jogging on public access ways across courses,'' Worksafe communications general manager John Tulloch said.
Under the new Act, businesses would have a duty to workers and other persons - which in the case of a golf course could include members of the public - in a workplace to manage risks so far as is "reasonably practicable''.
A "pretty basic'' way for a golf course to manage risks in a way that met the "reasonably practicable'' threshold would be to put up signage, alerting people to the fact they were traversing a golf course, and to be aware of players hitting balls.
Asked if Worksafe was concerned about people misinterpreting the new Act, Mr Tulloch said: "The Health and Safety at Work Act is all about what businesses, owners and workers can do to improve workplace health and safety.
"It's disappointing that some are focusing on what they claim it will stop them doing.''
Mr Watson did not return calls yesterday.
