Investigation Guideline

INVESTIGATION GUIDELINE
August 2004
Appendix 117

Consumer Fun-Karts
(Go-Carts)
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background Information

CPSC staff has been working with Fun-Kart Industry to
develop a voluntary standard that applies to consumer karts. Two
standards have been developed, ASTM International F1928-98(2004)e1,
"Standard Safety Guide for Consumer Recreational Use of
Fun-Karts", approved in 1998, and ASTM International F2011-02e1,
"Standard Specification for Safety Performance of Fun-Karts",
approved in 2000. Each year there are serious injuries
involving exposed moving parts on fun-karts. The voluntary
standards were developed to reduce the risk of injury associated
with this product.
B. Product Class Description

A Fun-Kart is a gasoline powered motorized vehicle having
four wheels and is sold for the private, recreational, off-road
use of consumers. The vehicle normally travels at speeds above
12 mph, but does not exceed 40 mph. The operator of the vehicle
sits behind a steering wheel and operates the accelerator and
brake by manipulating foot pedals. The vehicle is not to be
confused with an ATV, which the operator straddles and uses hand
controls. The hazards associated with fun-karts include the
entrapment of long hair or loose clothing in exposed moving parts
and collisions with stationary objects and/or other motor
vehicles. Both children and adults can be severely injured or
killed. Fun-Karts can be found around residences and are used by
consumers of all ages in fields, public parking lots, commercial
race tracks, and open areas affording access.
C. Incidents of Interest

All rollover/entrapment (on moving parts) injuries to
children, espically those with a fire, will be assigned for
on-site investigations.

INVESTIGATION GUIDELINE
D. Headquarters Contacts

Natalie Marcy

EPHA - (301) 504-7329

Troy Whitfield, ESME - (301) 504-7548
II. INSTRUCTION FOR COLLECTING SPECIFIC INFORMATION
INVESTIGATOR:
(1) Confirm with the owner/victim/parent before
conducting an on-site investigation that the kart
is a CONSUMER kart.

(2) If the kart is NOT a consumer kart or is a
HOMEMADE, do an abbreviated telephone
investigation.
(3) If the product is NOT available or the
respondent does not want an on-site
investigation, do a TELEPHONE INTERVIEW
using the provided DATA RECORD SHEET.
(4) If the kart is available and the owner agrees
to an on-site visit, do an on-site investigation.
Please use the DATA RECORD SHEET to record
specific information and also collect other
information as described in this guideline.
A. General Information

A description of the sequence of events, the type of
kart, and the conditions existing at the time of the
accident are necessary to determine the major hazard
patterns and the risk of injury associated with Fun-Karts.
B. Description of Victim Contact with the Product
(Victim/Product/Environment Interface)

Determine the accident sequence and where and how the
victim received his/her injuries (chest, back, neck, etc.).
C. Instructions for Collecting Specific Information

1. Information Collection - use ATTACHED DATA RECORD SHEET
and DIAGRAMS.

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INVESTIGATION GUIDELINE
2. Operational Observations:
o Obtain the measurements of the wheel base, tread width,
seat location, seat back to the rear/drive axle. (See
Section IV, Measurement Guideline)
o Observe location of seat belts, engine kill switch,
foot pedals and determine whether the unit was intended
for single or multiple occupancy.
3. Product Information
o Obtain manufacturer of Fun Kart, model number, and
serial number.
o Obtain manufacturer of engine, model number, and serial
number.
o Be particularly watchful for altered or modified
kart. If changes have been made, determine reason
for change.
o Note locations and photograph any warning labels on the
Fun Kart.
o Obtain copy of the owner's manual and operating
instructions
D. Description of Victim

o Indicate the victim's age, sex, height, weight,
clothing, competence reducing factors (e.g., impaired
vision, physical handicaps, medication, alcohol use,
etc.), knowledge of hazards, prior experience, or
training.
o Note the victim's activity prior to the incident (if
a child, whether the victim was playing with other
children, unsupervised by an adult, etc.).
E. Description of Environment

Characterize weather conditions at the time of the
accident, including lighting and ground conditions.

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INVESTIGATION GUIDELINE
III.INSTRUCTIONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING AND/OR DIAGRAMING ACCIDENT
SCENE AND FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE

Photograph Fun-Kart showing close-ups of involved
part(s), warning labels, rear axle, and any shielding/guards
(or location where shield/guard should have been, if
missing). Additionally, diagram the incident scene and
scenario, include photos from the operator's perspective side view, front and rear views, etc.
Photographs of entrapment incidents should document the
location of the part(s) involved relative to the victim's
position.
IV. MEASUREMENT GUIDELINE
Unit Measurements.

Obtain the following measurements, if possible, include tape
measure in photo:
A. Wheel base: The distance between center of the front wheel and
the rear wheel.
B. Seat back-to-axle: The distance from the back of the seat to
the rear axle.
For cases of entrapment,
measurement should be taken from
the location in the seat (ie.
for hair entrapment, where the
head was resting on the seat
back) to the location of the
entrapment.
C. Tread width: The distance
between the center of the two
rear wheels and the distance
between the center of the two
front wheels - the distances may
not be equal.
D. Entrapment Part: Document
location of the entrapment in
relation to the victim photograph any shielding/covers
in place or removed.

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INVESTIGATION GUIDELINE
E. Wheel Size: Obtain the size from the tire designations.
Inquire whether the wheels/tires are original equipment.
F. Operator Environment: Measure from the lowerst point of the
steering wheel to seat back, seat back to control pedals,
steering wheel diameter and note the thickness of any padding,
safety cushioning/devices present within the operator's
environment.
V. INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES AND DOCUMENTS RELATED TO
THE INVESTIGATION

o The measurements, photographs/diagrams, and any
investigations by the police, coroner, maufacturer, law
firm, insurance company, or engineering firm are to be
appended to the investigation report.
o Obtain copies of the operating and installation
instructions and repair history (if any) that are available
and append them to the investigation report. If necessary
these documents could be sent as an addendum to the report.

INVESTIGATOR: IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS CALL Natalie Marcy,EHHA(301)504-7329
TROY WHITFIELD, ESME(301)504-7548

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Fun-Kart/Go-Cart Data Record Sheet
1. Indicate below who is the respondent.
____ Victim/Injured person
____ Mother of victim
____ Father of victim
____ Someone else (Specify:____________________________)
2. Indicate below who owns the kart.
___ Victim's household --->ASK: Did your/victim's household
purchase the kart or build it?
_____ Purchased ---> Did you purchase ___ new ___ use?
_____ Built ---> (Specify:_________________________
____________________________________________)
___ Another household---> IF homemade, STOP the interview.

____ Rented
____ Don't know
3. About how old is the kart?
____ Years
____ Don't know
4. What is the brand name (manufacturer) and model name /number
of the kart?
Mfr.__________________________________________
Model # ______________________________________
_____ Don't know
5. What is the brand name (manufacturer), model name/number, and
horsepower of the engine of the kart?
Horsepower
Mfr.
Model #
____ Don't

___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
know

6. Had the kart been changed or modified in any way since you've
got it?
____ Yes ---> How was it changed or modified? Who did it?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
____ No
____ Don't know

7. Does the cart have any safety devices such as (Check as many
as applicable) --->
____ steering wheel with pad,
____ chain guard,
____ Belt guard,
____ wheel guards,
____ engine guard,
____ stepboards,
____ brush bar,or
____ anything else?--->(Specify:___________________________)
____ No
____ Don't know
8. Who was the injured person?
____ Driver
____ Passenger
____ Bystander
____ Other---> (Specify:______________________________)
____ Don't know
9. Include the driver, how many persons were riding the cart at
the time of the incident?
____ One
____ Two
____ Other (Specify:__________________________________)
____ Don't know
10. Did the accident occur on a road, a yard or lawn, or some
other location?
____ Road
____ Yard, lawn
____ Other --->(Specify:____________________________)
____ Don't know
11. Was the ground surface grass, dirt, sand, gravel or stone,
paved or something else?
____ Grass
____ Dirt
____ Sand
____ Gravel or Stones
____ Paved
____ Other--->(Specify:_____________________________)
____ Don't know
12. About how fast was the cart going at the time of the
accident?
____ Miles per hour
____ Don't know

13. Did the cart hit an obstacle such as a tree, fence, or a
vehicle?
____ No
____ Yes---> (Specify:_____________________________)
14. At the time of the accident, were you (the driver) doing any
maneuver such as jumping, high speed stunt, or racing?
____ Jumping
____ High speed stunt
____ Racing
____ Don't know
15. Was the driver wearing any special clothing such as:
____ helmet,
____ goggles,
____ gloves,
____ long sleeved shirt,
____ long heavy pants, or
____ ankle-length boots?
____ No
____ Other (Specify:_______________________________)
____ Don't know
16. Did any clothing or hair get caught in the kart?
____ Yes ---> describe how the clothing or hair was caught.
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
____ No
____ Don't know
17. Exactly where on the kart did (your/victim's) hair or
clothing get caught? Was it in the
____ opening in the motor,
____ Drive shaft, or
____ Other --->(Specify:____________________________)
____ Don't know
18. What were the weather conditions at the time of the injury?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
19. In your opinion, what caused the accident?
__________________________________________________________