Old tractor, no ROPS

[rd_macgregor]

Every time I see another one of these antique tractor rollover deaths, I'm grateful for the modern safety features of my tractor.
Mounties release name of man killed in tractor accident - Agriculture - Farm Focus

BOB

 

[buickanddeere]

You will be soon jumped on by those who have a right to do what ever they want, where ever they want with what ever they want. No worries however about the tax payer who picks up the Emergency Services, medical , chronic care and welfare .

 

[MHarryE]

I agree with you, RD. part of my last job was accident investigation, mainly fatal accidents. When my wife and I decided to buy this farm from my dad and retire from our career jobs to farm, the first thing I did was get rid of his old Farmall H with loader. The neighbor across the road had the same type of pan or retirement, rolled his H pinning himself, and ending up spending his shortened retirement as a paraplegic. I gained a strong stomach examining autopsy photos from roll over accidents trying to recreate the accident and I don't really want to be in one of those photos.

 

[bcp]

Some states have a program to retrofit old tractors:

https://www.nycamhoutreach.com/ropsr4u/

http://extension.psu.edu/business/ag-safety/news/2013/looking-for-a-rops-for-that-older-tractor

Bruce

 

[yelbike]

When I had my Fordson super major a few years ago, I went and saw an old professional welder friend of the family. I asked him to built a rops for me but he discouraged me. He told me, you never roll that thing. I felt like I was be over the top with safety, which some times can happen. Nice to know I'm not the only guy who's safety conscious about old tractors.

 

[adirondackmtnman]

I had inquired about the ROPS retrofit program for my 1966 IH and of the $1300 cost, all but $400 would have been paid for. I woulda jumped on it, but this new rig popped into my head and lo and behold! She came with a fresh one already installed!!

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[Birdhunter1]

I see it the same way, I like older tractors with their style and and all but the no ROPS on many of them turns me off. I really want an Allis Chalmers D 15 series II diesel but fitting a ROPS to one is a bit different. However the D 17's can be fit with them from a 170 or 180 and that may be in the future someday.
Till then I'll stick with my Ford 3910 and ROPS.

 

[Soundguy]

i didn't see it mentioned what tractor was involved. I also noticed it was a stump pull issue where the front came up.

sad.. it wasn't lack of rops that killed this guy.. it was lack of common sense.. pull from below the level of the rear axle to prevent the front coming up.. sad....

 

[Sysop]

I think ROPS is one of the dumbest looking parts of a tractor. Perch for birds to rest and leave presents in the seat. Folded down they look even more stupid, especially when being operated while down (although I've never considered the "why", it may just be the combined stupidity of the operator and the stupid looking ROPS bar in it's stupid looking folded position).

That being said I'd never own or operate a tractor on my land without one nor did I buy my tractor for looks. Living in the mountains you're quick to appreciate such things even if you think they're stupid looking. Also I'm not calling anyone stupid for not using ROPS or whatever unless you happen to have a tractor rolled over on top of you, then it may fit. There are many cases were such safety devices are silly. Folk out in Kansas probably cuss us mountain folk for tipping tractors and making it so ALL tractors had to have ROPS.

 

[MHarryE]

A study published last year by federal researchers found that deaths from tractor rollovers among U.S. agricultural workers fell 28 percent over the past two decades, dropping from 5.5 deaths per 100,000 workers in 1992 to 3.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2007. The data for 2008 and 2009 have not yet been analyzed to determine whether the trend has continued, said John Myers, a health statistician with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, who co-wrote the study. Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2010/09/05/1479253/tractor-safety-gear-curbs-rollover.html#storylink=cpy

The study showed 62% of the tractors in 1993 lacked ROPS and 40% in 2007 lacked ROPS.