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Tractor rollover accidents are among the most frequent causes of farm fatalities. Rollovers also result in serious injuries that leave farmers disabled and many farm families in dire straits.

Yet according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), half of the 4.7 million tractors in use today don’t have the one device that can prevent rollover deaths. ROPS, or rollover protective structures, create a protective zone around tractor operators that can prevent deaths and serious injuries when rollovers occur.

And rollovers occur more frequently than many people realize. On average, one of every 10 tractor operators will overturn a tractor.

ROPS have proven to be extremely effective when tractors flip. There are an estimated 2,000 ROPS-equipped overturns a year, with no data to suggest these rollovers resulted in fatalities. When ROPS and seat belts are used together, they are estimated to be 99 percent effective in preventing deaths or serious injury.

Like airbags in cars, ROPS on tractors are designed and certified to withstand only one rollover. So if a tractor overturns, the ROPS should be replaced immediately. ROPS also should be inspected regularly for signs of rust or cracks, as these could cause a structural failure during a rollover.

Older model tractors should be retrofitted with a ROPS based on manufacturers’ recommendations. Homemade ROPS are not recommended because they can easily fail if not designed, built or installed according to precise specifications of the manufacturer.