UTVs, ATVs & Utility Carts
Side-by-sides (UTVs), ATVs and golf carts move people and tools around large sites, pipelines, solar farms, ranches, campuses and plants. They feel like toys, but they’re top-heavy and easy to roll. Rollovers on slopes, ditches and uneven ground kill and injure workers every year, often when the rider isn’t belted in or wearing a helmet.
- Construction
- Utilities
- General Industry
Photo: UTV with ROPS, seatbelts fastened, and cargo secured in the bed
Know the difference
| Vehicle | How you ride | Key protection |
|---|---|---|
| UTV (side-by-side) | Sit in seats with a steering wheel | Rollover protective structure (ROPS), seatbelts, doors or nets |
| ATV (quad) | Straddle the seat with handlebars | Helmet, rider skill and body positioning; usually no ROPS |
| Golf and utility carts | Bench seat, low speed | Low speed, staying on paved paths; most have no seatbelts or rollover protection |
Why they roll over
- Driving across a slope instead of straight up or down
- Sharp turns at speed, especially on gravel or grass
- Hitting a hole, rut, curb or ditch
- Heavy loads carried high or on one side
- Towing too much weight, especially downhill
Rules for safe use
- Get trained on the specific vehicle; read the manual and warning labels.
- UTVs: wear the seatbelt, keep doors or nets closed, and keep arms and legs inside the ROPS. Don’t try to catch the vehicle with a hand or foot if it starts to tip.
- ATVs: wear a helmet and eye protection; most ATVs are designed for one rider only.
- Carry passengers only in seats designed for them.
- Stay within the load and towing limits; secure cargo low and centered.
- Drive slowly on slopes; go straight up and down, not across. Avoid sharp turns at speed.
- Use headlights and slow down in dust, darkness and tall grass where hazards are hidden.
- Don’t ride in the cargo bed.
- Don’t let untrained workers or minors drive.
- Don’t remove ROPS, seatbelts or doors.
- Don’t carry long material that sticks out past the vehicle or blocks your view.
- Don’t drive on public roads unless the vehicle is street-legal where you are and your employer allows it. Rules vary by state and city.
Pre-use check
- Tires inflated and undamaged
- Brakes, steering and throttle work smoothly
- Lights, horn and backup alarm (if equipped) working
- Seatbelts and doors or nets in good shape
- ROPS undamaged, with no cracks or bends
- Fuel or battery charge enough for the trip
- Helmet and eye protection for ATVs
Remote areas
UTVs are often used alone on pipelines, wind and solar farms, and ranches. If you roll a machine out there, help may be far away. Tell someone your route and return time, carry a phone or radio, and check in. See Working Alone.
Standards & references
- CPSC: ATV safety
- 29 CFR 1926.601: Motor vehicles (construction)
- ANSI/ROHVA 1: Recreational off-highway vehicles; ANSI/SVIA 1: ATVs
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