A survey of tractor overturning accidents in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Owen, G.M. and Hunter, A.G.M., 1983. A survey of tractor overturning accidents in the United Kingdom. Journal of Occupational Accidents, 5 : 185–193. Farm tractor overturning accidents reported by Health and Safety Executive Inspectors in Britain over an eight year period were classified and analysed. In the largest category of accidents the tractor driver had taken his machine beyond its safe operating limits; in the second category he made an error of judgement while the tractor was within its safe limits. The first category is probably unusual among occupational accidents in that no guidance exists on the safe limits for a tractor, and the driver has to rely on guesswork. A typical example of when a tractor has been operated beyond its safe limits is when a two-wheel drive tractor with roller behind it starts to slide downhill on a slippery grass slope and finally overturns. The only known method of predicting the slope at which sliding will start is by using a test instrument currently under development. All types of accident found in the reports are tabulated and discussed.