Rollover protective structure (ROPS) retrofitting on agricultural tractors: goals and approaches in different countries

Farm tractor rollovers are associated with a major proportion of injuries and deaths in agriculture. Rollover protective structures (ROPS) and drivers using seat belts have been proven to reduce 99% of deaths when tractor overturns occur. Tractors equipped with ROPS and driver's restraining system have been available for many years, but these safety devices are missing on most of the tractors previously manufactured. The object of the study is to collect from experts in tractor safety the different technical solutions for ROPS retrofitting on older tractors and the actions proposed in different countries to support, or enforce, their adoption. In the US by 1985 tractor manufacturers were voluntarily making ROPS as standard components of tractor design. ROPS have been mandatory on new standard tractors since 1976 in France, 1977 in Italy and 1980 in Spain. In Japan ROPS have been mandatory on new tractors in National Safety Test from 1991. In this country there is not any tractors ROPS retrofitting initiative, even though 90 fatalities resulting from tractor rollovers are reported every year. Since 2000, in Turkey, ROPS are mandatory on tractors, including those manufactured before 2000, but usage is very limited. Both in the US and some European Union countries, national occupational, safety and health agencies require pre-ROPS tractors to be fitted with a protective structure. In the US the regulation does not apply to self-employed farmers. In the European Union countries all tractors used on farms must be equipped with a ROPS, regardless of their age or their users. In these countries, in addition, it is forbidden to sell a tractor in use without a ROPS. The investigation reports design and calculation software, and guidelines with description of ROPS to be mounted on specific model of tractors as the most common tools to build, or select, the appropriate ROPS for the tractor to be retrofitted. Furthermore the study indicates that the results of voluntary ROPS retrofitting programs are a matter of discussion, while the outcome of mandatory retrofitting measures are less questionable, unless rules are not strictly enforced. These results contribute to the discussion about the future actions to be adopted to reduce fatalities and injuries in agriculture