Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) for Wheeled Agricultural Tractors

Agriculture Administration Policy
93-01 (Revised)

Tractor accidents are the number one cause of deaths and injuries in agriculture. As a leader of farm safety at the university and throughout Ohio, the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences should promote and practice safety on the farm and in the field. To this end, college departments and units will purchase, lease, accept as a gift or loan, and/or operate only tractors equipped with a rollover protection structure (ROPS). Current agricultural tractors will be brought up to ROPS standards by July, 2001. Exempt from this policy will be antique display equipment; small plot tractors of 20 HP or less; tractors using mounted equipment which is incompatible with ROPS (e.g. corn pickers); and low profile tractors* when used in orchards, vineyards, greenhouses, and other farm buildings where verticle clearance precludes use of a ROPS. Other tractors manufactured prior to October 25, 1976 may be exempted by the OSHA Coordinator/Health and Safety Specialist for the college, OARDC Safety Officer for OARDC units, and Equipment Maintenance Superintendent for ATI units. Every effort will be made to equip all tractors with ROPS when possible.

Each department or unit will follow a standard training program on tractor safety including the importance of ROPS for all employees who operate tractors. Each unit manager will instruct and require all employees to wear the seat belt on each ROPS equipped tractor. Managers will set the example and wear seat belts themselves when operating ROPS equipped tractors. Operating a tractor unsafely may result in disciplinary action against the employee. Once properly instructed, the employee must assume responsibility for his or her safety on the tractor and each employee will sign a waiver indicating completion of training. Long term employees (permanent or students) will complete refresher training every year.

Tractors used for display or shown in educational publications will be equipped with ROPS, unless the purpose is to show the hazards of not being equipped with ROPS.

Department chairs or unit heads will be responsible for the enforcement of this policy.

I, _______________________________, do hereby acknowledge that on ______________
   Name                                                                                                         Date

I completed the Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences "Tractor Safety Training" course. Furthermore, I certify that I have read and understand the OSU Agriculture Administration Policy for Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) for Wheeled Agricultural Tractors. I agree to comply with the OSU Agriculture Administration Policy and safety training procedures.

__________________________________                       _________________
Signature                                                                             Date 

*See Appendix A for definition of low profile tractor.

Revised 10/12/2000

Appendix A
Agriculture Administration Policy 93-01 (Revised)

A “low profile tractor” means a wheeled tractor possessing the following characteristics:

• The front wheel spacing is equal to the rear wheel spacing, as measured from the centerline of each right wheel to the centerline of the corresponding left wheel.

• The clearance from the bottom of the tractor chassis to the ground does not exceed 18 inches.

• The highest point of the hood does not exceed 60 inches, and

• The tractor is designed so that the operator straddles the transmission when seated.