Old tractor, no ROPS

[yelbike]

Wow. It looks pretty flat too. Sad.

 

[TomSeller]

It looks like there is a general slope to the land. I wonder if with that slope plus going over one of his mounds with one wheel tipped him sideways. His bucket was up and it was loaded which would make it very unstable (It looks to me like there is a load that spilled from the bucket in the picture). It looks to have a box blade on back, I don't see how that could have rear flipped him.

Thank you for posting this reminder to be safe. It is unfortunate this happened.

 

[jimpen]

Well put Jim. I think that the 'common sense' that some are lacking while oeprating this type of equipment is inherent in someone not raised around it, and even if they had been, dumb luck may have gotten generations of the same family through without incident...but from what I've seen, the families that have the 'common sense' to educate younger/inexperienced operators properly usually have a tragic and unfortunate story in their past to learn from. Furthermore, accidents can happen without being tied to user error(not that they did in this case), If a tire goes down or a wheel or axle breaks, you can still put one of these machines over on top of yourself. I think the safety features on these newer machines, while being far from a protective bubble, may at least point out to someone 'There's a reason I'm here, be careful.' Some may not get that point, but I think as awkward as they can be, they're important, and may turn a tragic accident into a 'close call' which will be a lesson that operator will carry with them the rest of their lives. Many, Many people around here are still using chainsaws without a chain brake, and while proper technique may likely eliminate most of the hazard, the likelihood and severity of an accident rises dramatically. I'll take the safety features, and even pay a little more for them, if it means myself or my family will see tomorrow...

A ROPS system is an extra $300-500 wholesale cost for the manufacturer (not the retail charge to us). It makes sense and is a practical change for relatively little cost to the rest of the tractor.

But a chain brake on a chainsaw gets into a questionable area. Adding a $50 cost to a simple electric B&D 18" pruning type chainsaw that cost $80 to begin with just starts to get questionable. How many idiots have been injured by the B&D 18" compared to the 40" Stihl saws used by a lumberjack.

Then there was the move, a few years ago, to equip table saws with the lockout/stop system that would stop the blade from moving as soon as the electric resistance in the blade changed. They were commonly demonstrating it using a hot dog in place of a human's finger. The thing that was hard to get them to admit that the process to stop the blade was to put a hardened bar into the path of the blade and generally destroyed at least one, if not multiple, teeth on the blade. Those 10" blades start at about $25-30 a piece. Also the system could be activated by a very wet spot in the wood, or from the sweat dripping from your forehead onto the blade. The cost/benefit analysis starts shifting when you look at facts.

So I'm not blowing off safety features at all. But getting the combo of cost/benefit right is always a consideration. Looking at the history of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) means that the number of cars with DRLs in daytime getting in accidents is significanlty lower. It is a $50-100 change. Mandating side restraint airbags means counting the number of side accidents where an SRA would have made a difference. But if you get pounded on the driver side doors by an 18 wheeler the SRA probably wouldn't make a difference. So the extra $1000 doesn't matter.

 

[bmaverick]

Actually ROPS systems are now less than $1000.

I have the ROPS added to my tractor from here ... Safety
This ROPS fits many of the compact tractors.

Having a ROPS is better than the alternative of being dead. The last thing you need is an engraved tractor upside down on your tomb stone. :2cents:

:firefighter: :doctor: :nurse: :reporter: :cop:

 

[jimpen]

Actually ROPS systems are now less than $1000.

The point was not the straight cost but the practical reason for the cost.

So if there were 10K deaths that were happening because of no ROPS it might make sense for a demand to retrofit old tractors. If there are only five deaths because the old tractor don't have a ROPS -- is it worth the money?

Just like lap belts compared to over the shoulder seat belts in cars.

 

[bmaverick]

The point was not the straight cost but the practical reason for the cost.

So if there were 10K deaths that were happening because of no ROPS it might make sense for a demand to retrofit old tractors. If there are only five deaths because the old tractor don't have a ROPS -- is it worth the money?

Just like lap belts compared to over the shoulder seat belts in cars.

When I got my tractor, the ROPS was $835. I gladly had the ROPS installed on my 1981. The use of the seatbelt needs to be assessed per the tractor mode being used at the time. But for the most part 95% of the time is ideal.

I would rather be around after a rollover accident than be six feet under while someone supports my family and my tractor is sold to someone else.

If people look at life insurance policies or how much auto insurance is costing, ROPS is a cheap investment for the safety. That recent widow lost her husband this past week in that roll over. If she knew that ROPS could have saved her husband "if" an accident happened, would she convince her husband to have the ROPS installed?

Much farm equipment does not have enough safety built into them. Safety is more like a 5th wheel to most. A hand, head, lung, leg(s) injury could put a person out of farming driving or life if they survive without a ROPS.

 

[rd_macgregor]

A note about the other half of the ROPS equation. A couple of weeks ago, I plopped down in the seat of my Kioti DK45 and heard a "crunch"...found that I'd dropped the seat belt under the edge of the seat and broke the plastic tensioner gizmo when I sat down. I now have a replacement buckle and will be re-installing the belts tonight.
Bob