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Click here to find the right ROLL-OVER PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE (ROPS) for you!
Also, click here to view the Initiative’s national website

HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM

In 2005, NIOSH awarded the 10 agricultural health research centers a grant to fund a 24-month project aimed at launching tractor safety programs.  At the time, an average of over 250 farmers, family members, and employees were killed annually in tractor accidents, including overturns, run-overs, PTO entanglements, and collisions.  Over half of these deaths were due to overturns.  The ultimate goal of the program was to improve safety practices and make safety equipment more accessible through engaging stakeholders—businesses, workers, governments, etc—and to change ideas, behaviors, and policy as well as leveraging funding to address tractor safety.  Though the grant period is over, the program has had lasting impacts as we continue to combat tractor-related injuries and deaths.

Tractor-related injuries and deaths have been a problem as long as tractors have been around. Fortunately, we have the technology to nearly eliminate fatalities.  Roll bars engineered and tested for safety, called Roll-Over Protective Structures, or “ROPS,” are a very effective way to protect yourself.  Sweden was the first country to mandate ROPS on new tractors in 1959 and has since added requirements to install them on all tractors.  Between 1960 and 1990, fatalities decreased from 17 to 0.3 per 100,000 tractors (Reynolds and Groves).

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Map created by John Myers (NIOSH)

The ag centers recognized that with a focus on behavior change and with enough political will, this level of safety could also be achieved on our farms in the US.  In 2004, we released a document detailing the need and preparedness for a national-level program to build the capacity necessary to address tractor safety issues.

 

This initiative was the first to involve investigators from all 10 centers.

 

PROJECTS

Projects undertaken as part of the Initiative included:

To learn more about each of these projects, go to the Initiative’s website here.

IMPACTS


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Researchers test ROPS in Colorado

Through the Initiative, a national, interdisciplinary network of collaborators was established to address tractor safety issues.  This network is committed to using idea and resource-sharing to decrease tractor fatalities.  At the end of the 24 month funding cycle in 2007, 12 peer-reviewed articles had been published and we completed 12 conference presentations.  We have continued our production of research and outreach materials ever since.
Project highlights completed under the Initiative included:

Ultimately, studies undertaken as a part of the initiative had a positive impact on local communities and also taught us valuable lessons about how to move forward.  They show that, with proper incentives and education, we can accelerate the retrofitting process in a cost-effective way. They demonstrate the importance of regional demonstration projects focused on at-risk populations.  They also stress the need for a smooth ROPS distribution system, continued funding sources to make ROPS more affordable, and social marketing tools that are regionally appropriate.   We must continue to develop research and outreach activities to address the tragedy of tractor-related deaths in America.   Click here to view our final report.

HICAHS’ ROLE


HICAHS, led by Dr. Stephen Reynolds, was the lead center for the project.  Dr. Juhua Liu of HICAHS led the project“Impact of Changes in ROPS Standards, Regulations and Technology on Future Tractor ROPS Availability.”  Additionally, Dr. Liu collaborated on a project aimed at making it easier to mount ROPS on older tractors.  To learn more about this project, click here. 
HICAHS continues to use our network of collaborators to address tractor safety.  One exciting project funded through HICAHS’ 2011-2016 grant is titled “Development and Evaluation of a Computer-based ROPS Design Program.” Through this project, Dr. Paul Ayers of the University of Tennessee will contribute to ROPS availability by developing a computer program that will facilitate the production of diverse and reliable systems to match all post-ROPS tractors.  Ultimately, this project aims to increase ROPS utilization and decrease injuries and fatalities due to tractor rollovers.

RESOURCES FOR FARM OWNERS, MANAGERS, WORKERS, AND FAMILIES

For steps you can take to protect yourself, your workers, and your family against tractor related injuries and deaths, check out our factsheets on farm tractor safety, power takeoff entanglement prevention, and rollover protective structures, or use the National Ag Safety Database.  Also, use this guide to ROPS to figure out which system could work for your tractors.  In New York and surrounding states, you could be eligible for a rebate.
For more information, see the Initiative’s website, the CDC's page on cost-effective ROPS the New York ROPS program, the Kentucky ROPS program,  or contact HICAHS.  We’re here to help!
                 

Select Publications

Cole HP, Myers ML, Westneat SC [2006]. Frequency and severity of injuries to operators during overturns of farm tractors. J Agricul Safety Health 12(2):127-138.

Comer RS, Ayers P, Liu J [2007].  Evaluation of engineering plastic for rollover protective structure (ROPS) mounting. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 13 (2).

Costello TM, Mitchell R, Schulman MD [2009].  Risk factors for a farm vehicle public road crash. Accident Analysis & Prevention 41(1): 42-47.

Douphrate, D., Rosecrance, J., Reynolds, S., Stallones, L., Gilkey, D. [2009]. Tractor-related injuries: an analysis of workers' compensation data. Journal of Agromedicine. 14:190-197.

Douphrate DI, Rosecrance JC, Wahl G [2006].  Workers’ compensation experience of Colorado agriculture workers, 2000–2004. Am J of Industrial Med. 49:900-910.

Liu, J. and P. Ayers [2006]. Impact of Tractor Safety Requirement on ROPS Standards and Technology. ASABE Paper No. 065016.

Liu, J. and P. Ayers [2005]. Dynamic Lateral Strength of Tractor ROPS at High Speed. ASAE Paper No. 055020.

Myers ML, Cole HP, Westneat SC [2006].  Seatbelt use during tractor overturns. J Agricul Safety Health. 12(1):43-49.

Myers ML, Cole HP, Westneat SC [2005].  Cost-effectiveness of a dealer’s intervention for retrofitting rollover protective structures. Injury Prevention. 11(3):169-173.

Myers J, Hendricks K [2009]. Agricultural Tractor Overturn Deaths: Assessment of Trends and Risk Factors. American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

Sanderson WT, Madsen MD, Rautiainen R, Kelly KM, Zwerling C, Taylor CD, Reynolds SJ, Stromquist AM, Burmeister LF, Merchant JA.  2005.  Tractor safety concerns in Iowa: The Keokuk County Rural Health Study.  J Agric Saf Health 12(1): 71-81.

Reynolds SJ, Groves W.  2000.  Effectiveness of roll-over protective structures in reducing farm tractor fatalities.  Am J Prev Med 18(4S):63-69.

Rautiainen RH, Ohsfeldt R, Sprince NL, Donham KJ, Burmeister LF, Reynolds SJ, Saarimaki P Zwerling C [2005]. Cost of compensated injuries and occupational diseases in agriculture in Finland. J. Agromedicine, 10(3), 21-29.

Wang X, Ayers P, Comer R [2005].  Modification and evaluation of continuous roll prediction model for front drive mowers.  ASAE Paper No. 05-5003.