Farm Related Runovers

Comments

Injuries resulting from being runover by farm equipment represent 16.5% of all agricultural fatalities and 5.2% of hospitalizations. They are second only to tractor rollovers as a cause of death on farms and are the fourth most common reason people are hospitalized for machine-related agricultural injuries.

Between 1990 and 2000, 207 people were killed in farm-related runovers. From  April 1990 to March 2000 an additional 784 people were hospitalized for runover injuries.

There are five types of runover scenarios: 1. Where an extra rider falls from a tractor or farm machine and is then run over by the machine or by an implement or wagon towed by it. ("Extra rider runovers.") 2. Where an operator falls from a tractor or farm machine and is then run over by the machine or by an implement or wagon towed by it. ("Operator runovers.") 3. Where a person (often a child) is inadvertently run over by a pick up truck or other vehicle  because the driver is unaware of his/her presence. ("Blind runovers.") 4. Where an unmanned tractor slips into gear or rolls down an incline running over a person (usually the operator) standing in front of it. ("Alighted operator runovers.")  5. Where an operator "jump-starts" a tractor via its ignition box and is then run over by the tractor. ("Jumpstart runovers.")

Unfortunately, young children are most at risk for runovers.  Children under 10 years old represent 63% of the extra rider and blind runover fatalities and 28.2% of the hospitalizations related to those types of runover events. 

Runover injuries are preventable. Young children must be closely supervised and kept away from the farm work site, especially when farm equipment is being used. Tractors are not (and should not be) designed to accommodate extra riders. Extra riders are at extremely high risk for a fatal injury. Passengers should never be allowed on a tractor or other farm machine. Under no circumstances should anyone stand in front of a tractor that is running, even if it is left in neutral.

Dr. Rob Brison, the director of the Canadian Agricultural Injury Surveillance Program believes that "Runover injuries are one of the most serious and perhaps the most preventable causes of injury in agriculture. By keeping small children away from the work site at all times and being vigilant in not permitting extra riders on tractors, the majority of these injuries would not occur."

Rollover injuries involving farm tractors are the leading cause of death on Canadian farms and ranches. They account for 22.8% of all agricultural work-related fatalities but only 2.3% of hospitalized injuries. Rollover injuries are particularly lethal, so most victims are killed at the scene.

in the eleven years from 1990-2000, 248 people were killed in rollover events. Between April 1990 and March 2000, there were 351 rollover-related hospitalizations.

Adults aged 60 and over are at highest risk for rollovers. They represent only 13.2% of Canada's farming population, yet comprised 40.7% of the rollover fatalities and 34.2% of the rollover-related hospitalizations. 

There are two types of rollovers. In sideways rollovers, a  tractor rolls sideways on a steep slope. In backwards rollovers, a tractor rolls over backwards while engaged in a towing or hauling maneuver. 

Rollover fatalities are preventable. All tractors should be equipped with rollover protection structures (ROPS) and seatbelts. Drivers should always wear seatbelts so that they are held securely within the ROPS in the event of a rollover. In Australia, where ROPS and seatbelts are mandatory, the death rate from rollovers has dropped to near zero.

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 manufacturer's weight recommendations. 

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 need to invest in installing an after-market ROPS. The one-time cost of these retrofits will be effective in saving lives." WSN