Rollover injuries, especially those involving tractors, are the leading cause of death on Canadian farms and ranches. There are two types of rollovers. In sideways rollovers, a tractor or other machine rolls over sideways on a steep slope, a sharp turn, or at the edge of a ditch. In backwards rollovers, a tractor or other machine rolls over backwards while engaged in a towing or hauling maneuver. Backwards rollovers typically occur while hauling logs, pulling stumps, or towing vehicles or machines.
In the fifteen years from 1990-2004, 351 people were killed in agricultural rollover events. Between April 1990 and March 2000, there were 339 rollover-related hospitalizations. Of the
351 fatal rollovers, 61.5% were sideways, 29.9% were backwards, and 8.5% were of unspecified type.
Machine rollovers accounted for 22.6% of all agricultural work-related fatalities, but only 2.3% of hospitalized injuries. Rollover injuries are particularly lethal, so most victims die immediately at the scene from severe crush injuries.
86.0% of all rollover fatalities involved tractors.
Adults aged 60 and over are particularly likely to be involved in rollover events. They represent only 14.4% of Canada's farming population
(2001), yet they comprised 41.9% of the rollover fatalities and 33.7% of the rollover-related hospitalizations.
Twenty-five rollover fatalities involved off road vehicles. In 32.0% of these cases, the off road vehicle was operated by a child or youth under 16. In this age group, only one of the fatal off road vehicle rollovers was work related. Riders of off road vehicles should wear CSA approved helmets to avoid serious head injuries in the event of a rollover.
Rollover protection structures (ROPS), when combined with seatbelt use, are designed to prevent the operator from being crushed during a rollover event. Use of ROPS and seatbelts by all tractor operators would help prevent rollover fatalities.
Reducing speed when turning, especially when traveling on slopes or slippery ground, and keeping well away from ditches would prevent many sideways rollovers. Backwards rollovers could be minimized by using appropriate hitching procedures and by not towing loads that exceed the manufacturer's weight recommendations.
Most tractors and other agricultural machines are not designed to seat passengers. Extra riders of any age should not be allowed on agricultural machines unless there are additional manufacturer-designed passenger workstations or seats. If passengers are not safely seated, they are very likely to be killed or injured seriously in a rollover event, even if the machine has ROPS.
Louise Hagel of the Institute for Agricultural, Rural and Environmental Health believes that, "Farmers with tractors that are not equipped with ROPS and a seatbelt should invest in installing an after-market ROPS. The one-time cost of these retrofits will be effective in saving lives."
