Safety risks of older tractors on the farm

Safety risks of older tractors on the farm
Farmall M tractor. Photo Credit: Jake Rogers Photography
June 8th, 2023 | Randy Saner, Nebraska Extension educator University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A recent tragic incident involving a small utility tractor rollover in Southeast Nebraska serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with operating older tractors without rollover protection.

The incident underscores the prevailing danger that exists on farms and acreages, regardless of age or experience. The distressing image of the incident remains indelibly etched in the minds of those who witnessed it. Today, the absence of rollover protection on older tractors emerges as a significant safety concern within agricultural settings.

Beginning in 1986, American tractor manufacturers began voluntarily adding ROPS (Roll Over Protection Structure) on all farm tractors sold in the United States over 20 horsepower. Before that, ROPS was an option and many farmers due to economics didn’t choose to add them.

Tractor accidents can occur in a split second, especially when attempting to extract heavy objects or stumps hitched or chained too high on the tractor. It is virtually impossible for anyone to react swiftly enough to prevent such accidents, be it a sideways or backwards tip-over incident.

The vulnerability of tractors to rolling or tipping over is attributed to their high center of gravity. To mitigate risks, it is crucial to always hitch loads at the drawbar, avoiding higher attachment points. Additionally, the use of front weights to enhance tractor stability is recommended.

Startling statistics compiled by The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health at the University of Iowa shed light on the severity of the issue:

  • Tractor overturns are the leading cause of fatal injuries on US farms, resulting in an average of approximately 130 deaths annually.
  • Approximately one in ten operators will experience a tractor overturn incident during their lifetime.
  • Surprisingly, 80% of deaths resulting from tractor overturns involve experienced operators.
  • Tractor overturns render one in seven farmers permanently disabled.
  • Shockingly, seven out of ten farms face closure within five years following a tractor-related fatality.

It is worth noting that many farms still rely heavily on tractors manufactured before 1986, which are unlikely to have been retrofitted with ROPS. Compounding the issue, young individuals often operate these older tractors, further increasing the risk factor.

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