Modern tractors are very robust and safe vehicles if they are used within the manufacturer’s stated performance envelopes.
However, in certain situations they can, by definition, also be dangerous and tractors rolling over was once one of the commonest forms of serious and fatal agricultural injury.
As you can imagine, even with some of the smaller models, you wouldn’t want to be underneath a tractor if you somehow managed to accidentally turn it over.
That is why, by law, all tractors above a certain weight, including Kubota tractors, must have some sort of ‘ROPS’ fitted. That actually stands for ‘Roll Over Protection System’ and it acts to ensure that there is something in place to stop the tractor rolling over directly on top of the driver in an accident situation.
Interestingly enough, the system has its origins in Sweden during the 1950s and it became a legal requirement, under specified circumstances, in Australia during 1981/82.
It’s an incredible fact and a tribute to ROPS that since its introduction, there has been a 72 per cent decline in roll-over accident fatalities within the farming industry.
The exact legal position relating to when ROPS is mandatory and when it can be dispensed with, is slightly complicated and probably a bit too involved for a brief blog of this nature. What we can do is to say that if you’d like to know more about ROPS on new and second-hand equipment, give us a call and we’ll happily talk through why it might be advisable or in some cases a legal requirement.
Some people will occasionally say that having ROPS fitted can make it difficult to get underneath trees and bushes etc. That’s because it typically adds to the overall height of the tractor or mower concerned.
However, that shouldn’t be used as an excuse to try and remove it!
Once again, if you are having operational issues arising from ROPS, why not talk to us and we’ll see what we can do to help?
However, in certain situations they can, by definition, also be dangerous and tractors rolling over was once one of the commonest forms of serious and fatal agricultural injury.
As you can imagine, even with some of the smaller models, you wouldn’t want to be underneath a tractor if you somehow managed to accidentally turn it over.
That is why, by law, all tractors above a certain weight, including Kubota tractors, must have some sort of ‘ROPS’ fitted. That actually stands for ‘Roll Over Protection System’ and it acts to ensure that there is something in place to stop the tractor rolling over directly on top of the driver in an accident situation.
Interestingly enough, the system has its origins in Sweden during the 1950s and it became a legal requirement, under specified circumstances, in Australia during 1981/82.
It’s an incredible fact and a tribute to ROPS that since its introduction, there has been a 72 per cent decline in roll-over accident fatalities within the farming industry.
The exact legal position relating to when ROPS is mandatory and when it can be dispensed with, is slightly complicated and probably a bit too involved for a brief blog of this nature. What we can do is to say that if you’d like to know more about ROPS on new and second-hand equipment, give us a call and we’ll happily talk through why it might be advisable or in some cases a legal requirement.
Some people will occasionally say that having ROPS fitted can make it difficult to get underneath trees and bushes etc. That’s because it typically adds to the overall height of the tractor or mower concerned.
However, that shouldn’t be used as an excuse to try and remove it!
Once again, if you are having operational issues arising from ROPS, why not talk to us and we’ll see what we can do to help?
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