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Timothy
G. Prather
University of Tennessee Extension
How
would you like to buy a life insurance policy that does not
have a monthly premium? Better yet, there is almost no chance
that you will be killed while the policy is in effect!
What
kind of insurance policy can do that? It is a roll-over protective
structure (ROPS) and safety belt for your tractor.
Tractor
overturns remain the leading cause of death from farm work
in Tennessee, claiming almost 20 lives each year. Victims
of these incidents do not intend to Rip their tractors, but
overturns usually occur too quickly for a person to jump from
the tractor and avoid serious injury or death. Even if your
reactions are quick enough, the fenders, controls, hydraulic
hoses and other obstacles will prevent a clear jump.
The
ROPS provides a crush-free zone around the operator. However,
the operator must remain on the seat to be protected. The
only way to be certain you will remain on the seat is to use
the safety belt.
How
effective is a ROPS and safety belt? Virtually 100 percent
effective in preventing deaths from overturns. We do not know
of a single agricultural fatality that resulted from a tractor
overturn when both the ROPS and safety belt were in use. As
a bonus, the ROPS limits many overturns to 90 degrees rather
than a complete rollover, reducing damage to the tractor as
well as protecting the operator.
Failure
to use the safety belt with a ROPS is risky, however. There
have been cases where operators who were not using the safety
belt were thrown from the tractor and crushed by the ROPS
that was intended to protect them.
Yes,
adding a ROPS and safety belt to your tractor does cost several
hundred dollars. But compare this to the cost of a serious
injury and the resulting pain and lost production. Your ROPS
and safety belt equipped tractor will also be legal under
OSHA standards for operation by trained employees and the
tractor will have a higher market value.
What
is the best life insurance? If you are a tractor operator,
the combined use of a ROPS and safety belt are your best bet.
Contact
your tractor dealer to determine the availability of ROPS
for your tractor. You will find there are lower prices and
more ROPS models available than ever before, including fold-down
models. Use only ROPS structures certified for your particular
tractor. Don't bet your life on a homemade or other uncertified
ROPS.
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Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
news release was distributed by the University of Tennessee
Agricultural Extension Service, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901.
Publication date: December 1992.
Timothy
G. Prather, Agricultural Safety Specialist, Agricultural Engineering
Department, University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension
Service, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901.
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