FARM TRACTORS, AND THE USE OF SEAT BELTS AND ROLLOVER PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES

Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) on farm tractors could signific antly reduce the rate of fatal occupational injury on farms, but compa ratively few tractors have them. Many of the policy discussions have f ocused on trying to identify the percentage of tractors that do not ha ve ROPS, even though such a focus probably does not accurately represe nt effective protection by ROPS. This study investigates whether inclu ding differences in hours of usage, tractor activities, and seat belt use affects estimates of farm operators' protection by ROPS. In genera l, tractors used more hours a year were more likely to have ROPS. ROPS status also varied by tractor activity. When adjusting for seat belt use, effective ROPS protection is much less than when considering just ROPS status. Measures of the effective coverage of ROPS and policy re sponses should reflect these differences in hours, activities, and sea t belt use. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.