Crops
Cost-effective Rollover Protective Structures (CROPS)
Tractor-related Overturn Fatalities
The available data show that tractor overturns continue to occur. Between 2011-2018, 971 tractor-related fatalities occurred in agricultural production. These types of fatalities could be rollovers, entanglements, or falls. Previous analyses have revealed that 45% of “tractor-related fatalities” in the US are due to tractor overturns. In Indiana, approximately 39% of all documented agricultural fatalities in 2015 involved an overturned tractor. In Ohio, tractor overturns accounted for 54% of all farm deaths during the period 2007-2016.5
Tractors without ROPS
Available data suggest that many tractors without ROPS are still in use. In 2011, the most recent year for which data were available, 59% of tractors in use were equipped with ROPS – meaning that 41% did not have ROPS. This was nearly the same as data from 5 years earlier, suggesting that the growth of ROPS coverage seen in previous years had slowed. The continued use of older tractors without ROPS increases the risk of deaths and injuries in the event of a tractor overturn.
Disclaimers
Users must build and install CROPS per NIOSH specifications without any changes. Deviations will result in non-compliance with SAE J2194 and reduced operator protection in rollovers.
OEMs of tractors were not involved in the CROPS project’s development, design, or testing. NIOSH provides CROPS designs and instructions to protect worker safety, with no guarantees. Users agree to indemnify the U.S. government from any claims, costs, damages, or losses arising from the use of these designs and instructions and will not involve the U.S. government in related lawsuits.