Abstract
The NIOSH AutoROPS efforts for the past 12 years (1995-2007) have been challenging from the perspective of the design engineer, marketer and safety advocate. Through dissemination of NIOSH's research information to all levels of involved parties, these efforts have raised the awareness in ROPS usage. The major outcome was always expected to be a partnership with a major company in the agricultural industry producing and offering the AutoROPS as an optional safety device in low-clearance environments. At project inception, it was not conceived that the major company would be a zero-turn commercial lawn mower manufacturer and the major outcome would be an industry safety standard for the deployment of the AutoROPS. The final path was dictated by combined efforts of NIOSH and its partnerships with FEMCO, OTTC and Scag Power Equipment. NIOSH is excited about the expected acceptance of the ASABE standard. Once the standard is ratified this technology will be available for manufacturers to implement into new and existing safety products.