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Rollover protective structures (ROPS) are protective frames for wheel-type industrial and agricultural equipment typically used for construction activities. ROPS are intended to protect operators from potentially injury resulting from accidental overturns during normal operations. OSHA requires employers provide ROPS for each wheel-type industrial and agricultural tractor operated by an employee. For tractors requiring ROPS, employers are also required to enforce seat belt use, protection from spillage of fuels or other liquids, and protection from contact with sharp objects within the cab of the tractor. Every employee operating tractors with ROPS must be informed of safe operating procedures upon hire and at least annually thereafter.
Scope
This regulation applies to the following types of material handling equipment used in construction work: All rubber-tired, self-propelled scrapers, rubber-tired front-end loaders, rubber-tired dozers, wheel-type agricultural and industrial tractors, crawler tractors, crawler-type loaders, and motor graders, with or without attachments.
This regulation also applies to compactors and rubber-tired skid-steer equipment, with or without attachments, manufactured after July 15, 2019, that are used in construction work. This subpart does not apply to sideboom pipelaying tractors.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1926.604 — Site clearing
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart W — Rollover protective structures; overhead protection
Key definitions
- Construction work: Work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating. [Editor’s note: Site clearing is also considered construction work.]
Summary of requirements
- Require that rollover guards are in place on all equipment used in site clearing operations.
- Ensure the rollover canopy structure meets the requirement of 1926.604(a).
- Make sure rollover protective structures have the following information permanently affixed to the structure:
- Manufacturer or fabricator’s name and address
- ROPS model number, if any
- Machine make, model, or series number that the structure is designed to fit.