Tractor Rollovers Are Preventable

Details

• Personal Author:
  Forst LS
• Description:
  The agriculture sector continues to have the highest rate of fatal occupational injuries (23.2 per 100 000 full-time-equivalent workers, with 593 fatalities in 2016) and the highest rate of nonfatal work-related illnesses and injuries (6.1 per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, with 58 300 cases in 2016). Tractor deaths are responsible for approximately one third of these fatalities, with about half caused by tractor rollovers. Tractor rollovers occur for a number of reasons, including tractor operations near irregular, slippery, and sloped terrain; fixed pathway obstacles; and operator issues such as distraction, excessive speed, improper hitching, and failure to set the break when stopped. The most frequent victims are elderly farmers, although notably youths and hired farm workers are also affected. Tractor rollovers are preventable. Rollover protective structures and systems (ROPS) offer an engineering solution that, along with seatbelt use, protects drivers and virtually eliminates the potential for fatal or severe injuries. It has been shown that engineering controls are the most effective means of controlling workplace hazards, followed by administrative controls (policies and practices) and, finally, personal protective equipment. Engineering controls are preferred because policies and personal protective equipment require promotion of their implementation, which is dependent on the availability of sound and effective protective equipment as well as the knowledge and impetus of workers to use it appropriately. Some 4.2 million tractors are in use on US farms and ranches. By 1985, as a result of legislation and buy-in from the industry, all new tractors were being manufactured with ROPS. However, tractors have significant longevity, and only 59% had ROPS in place in 2006. International research suggests that further reductions in tractor rollover fatalities will not occur until 75% to 80% of eligible tractors are retrofitted with ROPS. Research has led to the development of effective retrofit designs, including cost-effective designs, structures that deploy automatically (auto-ROPS), and stability indicator sensors. Qualitative research has identified barriers to retrofitting old tractors with ROPS: the expense involved, spatial clearance for specific environments, tractor housings that can support ROPS and withstand overturning, personal preferences, and risk perceptions on the part of tractor operators. Implementation research in this realm has focused on social marketing, training and education (sometimes including targeting of high-risk populations), and, more recently, an ROPS rebate program. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Mortality Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Machinery Agricultural Safety Farm Workers Fatalities Injury Prevention Rollover Protective Structures ROPS Safety Engineering Tractors
• ISSN:
  0090-0036
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant ; Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  108
• Issue:
  11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063614
• Citation:
  Am J Public Health 2018 Nov; 108(11):1436-1437
• Contact Point Address:
  Linda S. Forst, MD, MPH, School of Public Health-Environmental Health, 2121 W Taylor, M/C 922, Chicago, IL 60612
• Email:
  LForst@uic.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Public Health
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0de938c4403d9e19fe464ff48b0a35f94fe781f8aa2773949607b628cfd518b53b8cc346d2b46e734fc424032e63805e474e82a94e396c4d1622e1637d1f9b3f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222187/cdc_222187_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 613.06 KB ]