Scheme to help farmers pay for tractor safety devices

30/7/93

A special scheme will again be available to help farmers equip tractors with a life-saving fitting in a bid to reduce the high number of deaths involving farm machinery.

Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett today announced the availability of a $10,000 Government fund to help farmers pay for a roll-over protective structures (ROPS) to be fitted to tractors.

He was addressing the Farm Machinery Dealers' Association conference on behalf of the Premier.

Mr Barnett said the Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (DOSHWA) would offer farmers $200 to buy and attach the ROPS to tractors manufactured before September 1978.

ROPS, a protective steel frame, had been tested and approved in line with Australian manufacturing standards and cost about $500. It became a compulsory fitting for all new tractors manufactured after 1978.

However, the Minister said about 5,000 tractors in Western Australia were still without ROPS.

"More than half of the State's 14 deaths since 1985 involving tractors could be prevented if all tractors were fitted with ROPS," Mr Barnett said.

Tractors are responsible for nine out of every 10 farm deaths in Australia.  A tractor-accident death occurred in WA this month.

"Tractors are the most hazardous piece of machinery on farms," Mr Barnett said.

"The use of ROPS will help ensure tractors are safer to use."

Mr Barnett said accidents often occurred when a tractor overturned when bogged or on uneven ground.

He said ROPS, with the combined use of a seatbelt, would help save the operator from being injured if thrust from an overturned tractor.

To be eligible for the DOSHWA fund, tractors needed to weigh between 560 kg and 3865 kg and have been manufactured prior to the compulsory fitting laws.

A free booklet entitled, Safe Use of Farm Tractors, recommended safe procedures for commonly performed tractor tasks and is available from DOSHWA, 1260 Hay Street, West Perth or by phoning the machinery duty inspector on 327 8777.

Media contact: Carolyn Vicars - 222 9686