Although today’s tractors are the safest ever, studies repeatedly indicate the tractor is the machine most often involved in agricultural related fatalities. Seat belts, Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS), PTO shields, lights and automatic hydraulic oil shut-off now standard on most new tractors, are some of the effective means to help prevent some of these tragedies.
But these advances are still unable to eliminate the risks. Tractor accidents like rollovers, and runovers are still the most frequent cause of agricultural injuries and fatalities.
Here are some Ontario statistics:
- Between 5-15 tractor-related deaths occur in Ontario every year
- Tractor-related incidents represent approximately 60% of all fatalities annually
- Tractor rollovers account for 30% - 50% of all tractor-related deaths
- About 50% of tractor rollovers, are to the side
Topography
Topography is a common factor in tractor fatalities; however, even people farming on flatter lands are subject to variable conditions, e.g. operating on roads or near ditches. Most overturn fatalities occur in the field, the farmyard, and on public roadways. Roadway overturns generally occur when the tractor begins to drive off the road, typically resulting in a side overturn. They may also occur when ditches are being mowed or hitting debris and other obstacles, or turning a corner too fast.
Field overturns typically occur as a result of carrying loads too high with a loader, working along fence rows, herding cattle, driving along the edge of a dead-furrow or performing haying operations.
Tractor Age
Older tractors are more likely to be involved in fatal overturns simply because these tractors tend to not be equipped with a ROPS. The effectiveness of the ROPS system has been well documented. ROPS protects the operator and also helps prevent the tractor from completely overturning more than 90% of the time. In overturns involving tractors with a ROPS, less than 1% have resulted in the operator’s death. With this system, it is also important that a seatbelt is used. The seatbelt is used to keep the operator in place within the “zone of protection”, thus decreasing the risk of injury and keeping the operator from being bounced off the seat.
ROPS have been standard on tractors since 1986 however, there are still a large number of tractors in use today that do not have them. Approved ROPS are available for some tractors manufactured from as early as 1960 and for most tractors manufactured since 1969. In some instances, changing the tractor’s usage patterns can reduce the risk dramatically. You should encourage the use of tractors with ROPS to be used for tasks that are at higher risk to rollovers such as, working on slopes, roadway travel, field work and ditches.
Two facts about tractors have made them a priority for the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL): their use in thousands of workplaces and their continuing role as a significant cause of serious worker injury and death. Manufacturers are continually improving the design of tractors to make them safer. However, they are unable, as of yet, to build a mechanism, which recognize unsafe conditions. You, as the tractor operator, should know the machine, be aware of the hazards and be prepared to avoid any mishap.
Accounting for half of all fatal tractor accidents, rollovers are generally due to operating too fast for the conditions, striking surface hazards such as rocks, stumps and hole, running into ditches, hitching too high, operating on steep slopes, and using front-end loaders improperly. Tractor upsets also occur when handling large hay bales and other heavy loads with front-end loaders.
Types of Tractor-Related Accidents
Falls from moving tractors can result in serious and sometimes fatal injuries. In many instances the victim is a child, but operators and adult riders can also fall. Falls often occur from smaller and older tractors used around the farmstead, where extra riders and overhead hazards are more common than in fields.
Another cause of tractor-related death and serious injury is being caught by, or entangled in, any rotating shafts (especially the PTO). These injuries are preventable. Tractors should be operated responsibly at all times. You should always operate the tractor and machinery at a safe speed for the given situation. The time saved by operating the tractor at a higher rate of speed is simply too little to justify risking human life. Reduce the speed, and be cautious when people are present at all times.
