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Evaluating the protective capacity of two-post ROPS for a seat-belted occupant during a farm tractor overturn.

Guan J; Hsiao H; Zwiener JV; Current RS; Lutz TJ; Cantis DM; Powers JR Jr.; Newbraugh BH; Spahr JS

J Agric Saf Health 2011 Jan; 17(1):15-32

https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.36231

20038623

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a commercial rollover protective structure (ROPS) and size-extended ROPS in protecting a 95th percentile male operator during tractor overturns. Six rear upset tests (commercial ROPS) and ten side upset tests (commercial and size-extended ROPS) were conducted. A 95th percentile instrumented male manikin was used in all tests. Head injury criterion (HIC 15 ), 80 g limit on resultant head acceleration, neck injury criterion (N ij ), and peak axial force (extension-compression) were employed to evaluate injury potential. In all rear tests, the manikin's head impact with the ground was within the tolerance limits for head/neck injuries. Based on limited trials in the side tests, the study observed a small to moderate chance of neck injuries under the commercial and size-extended ROPS conditions; the injury risk was not statistically significant between these two test conditions. This study identified a risk of non-fatal injuries for large-size operators in side overturns, although the prevention effectiveness of commercial versus size-extended ROPS cannot be determined without further testing. These findings may have implications for future ROPS designs.

Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-machinery; Agricultural-processes; Agricultural-workers; Agriculture; Engineering-controls; Equipment-design; Farmers; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Machine-guarding; Risk-analysis; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Tractors; Author Keywords: Agricultural safety; Clearance zone; Injuries; Rollover protective structures; Tractor overturn