Farmers caught out by ROPS rules

Changing safety regulations mean that unless farmers fit approved roll-over protection structures to these workhorses, they could soon be breaking the law.

Tractors manufactured before 1981 were previously exempt from regulations concerning the compulsory fitting of ROPS, but when the WHS Regulations 2012 came into operation at the start of 2013, this exemption was removed. Tractor users have been given until January 1 to install ROPS on all pre-1981 tractors weighing between 560 kilograms and 15 tonnes - a date which is fast approaching.

Former Port Victoria farmer and agricultural trainer Matt Dutschke is concerned many farmers will be caught out by the rule changes.

"Broadacre farmers traditionally have one or two new tractors that do their big work, but in just about every farm I go to, parked in their shed is an old tractor that is dragged out to use with bins or post-hole diggers, and they're generally those pre-1980 tractors," Mr Dutschke said.

"What really concerns me is that farmers out there don't know this is happening, so they'll be operating outside their duty of care and they are going to get hammered if someone gets hurt.

"The message needs to be spread, especially leading into harvest, because every man and his dog will be thinking about pulling those tractors out. They're okay until January, but they need to start being made aware."

Several manufacturers produce specialised ROPS for installation on older tractors from major makes, including Chamberlain, Fiat, Ford, International, John Deere, Kubota, Leyland and Massey Ferguson. Prices for a rigid frame appear to range from about $700 to more than $3000, while choosing a folding model will add about $500 to the cost.

Horticulture Coalition of SA chairperson and Apple and Pear Growers Association of SA chief executive officer Susie Green, Lenswood, said the majority of the state's orchard operators were using post-1981 tractors with full ROPS.

"I am sure, however, that there are still a few of the older style kicking around - particularly for forklift use at picking time," she said.

Ausveg SA state manager Jordan Brooke-Barnett said he also felt most local vegetable growers would be using more modern machinery, but said more needed to be done to alert growers of changing regulations.

"Regulations like this always seem to be expanding, much like biosecurity rules and the tagging of all electrical equipment," he said. "There can be a bit of a disconnect between regulations - which are constantly being redrafted - and communication with growers.

"I'm sure our members would be prepared to spend the money to fit the right frames, but first they have to know about it. I'd hate for there to be an incident which involves WorkCover, then you find out afterwards that you're not compliant."