Tractor overturns account for 50 percent of tractor fatalities annually in the US. Rollover protective structures (ROPS) can protect operators from injury if a tractor overturns. ROPS surround operators in a protective steel cage, especially when built into an enclosed cab. Seat belts must be fastened for ROPS to be fully effective. ROPS prevent injury but cannot prevent overturns.
Overturns cause about 130 tractor operator deaths annually in the US. That is 50 percent of all farm worker deaths. One in 10 operators overturns a tractor in a lifetime. Most overturns involve experienced operators.
- Tractor Rollover Percentage
Tractor rollovers account for 44% of all farm accidents and 50% of all farm worker deaths annually in the US. That’s about 130 operator deaths each year. One in 10 operators will overturn a tractor in their lifetime, including experienced operators.
Most rollovers (85%) are side rollovers. Rear overturns are less common but more likely to be fatal because they happen quickly without warning. Tractor instability is the main cause of rollovers. The tractor’s center of gravity is an important factor in stability. Rollovers can occur from uneven terrain or an unbalanced load.
- Leading Cause of Fatal Tractor Accidents
Tractor overturns account for 50 percent of tractor fatalities annually in the US. That is 130 operator deaths each year. Rollover protective structures (ROPS) can protect operators from injury if a tractor overturns by surrounding them in a protective steel cage, especially when built into an enclosed cab. However, seat belts must be fastened for ROPS to be fully effective in preventing injury. ROPS cannot prevent overturns.