Article: Continuous overturn control of compactors/rollers by rollover protective structures Journal: International Journal of Vehicle Safety (IJVS) 2008 Vol.3 No.1 pp.45 - 59 Abstract: The objective of this article is to report on the effectiveness of Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) in preventing continuous overturns of compactors/rollers. This study is a case-based analysis of government investigation reports of injury-related overturns of compactors/rollers. The overturns were predominately on construction sites including road and embankment construction in the USA. Other sites included driveway and roadway maintenance or repair and transporting of compactors/rollers either by driving or when loading on or unloading from trailers. The principle intervention observed in controlling a continuous overturn (a roll beyond 90° relative to the impact surface) was the presence of a ROPS on a compactor/roller that serves as an anti-roll bar. The main outcome measures are cases of compactor/roller overturns that are restricted to a 90° roll or are continuous (exceed a 90° roll). All cases of an overturn in which a ROPS was present resulted in no continuous overturn, and the cases involved with no ROPS averaged an overturn of 301°, showing a propensity for a continuous overturn. This case-based analysis identified a ROPS on compactors/rollers as an effective control for reducing the risk of an overturn to 90° relative to the impact plane. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Continuous overturn control of compactors/rollers by rollover protective structures

Authors: Melvin L. Myers

Addresses: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; 1293 Berkeley Road, Avondale Estates, GA 30002-1517, USA

Abstract: The objective of this article is to report on the effectiveness of Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) in preventing continuous overturns of compactors/rollers. This study is a case-based analysis of government investigation reports of injury-related overturns of compactors/rollers. The overturns were predominately on construction sites including road and embankment construction in the USA. Other sites included driveway and roadway maintenance or repair and transporting of compactors/rollers either by driving or when loading on or unloading from trailers. The principle intervention observed in controlling a continuous overturn (a roll beyond 90° relative to the impact surface) was the presence of a ROPS on a compactor/roller that serves as an anti-roll bar. The main outcome measures are cases of compactor/roller overturns that are restricted to a 90° roll or are continuous (exceed a 90° roll). All cases of an overturn in which a ROPS was present resulted in no continuous overturn, and the cases involved with no ROPS averaged an overturn of 301°, showing a propensity for a continuous overturn. This case-based analysis identified a ROPS on compactors/rollers as an effective control for reducing the risk of an overturn to 90° relative to the impact plane.

Keywords: continuous roll; continuous overturns; ROPS; rollover protective structures; vehicle safety; overturn injury; construction sites; road construction; embankment construction; maintenance; trailer loading; trailer unloading; compactors; rollers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2008.020079

International Journal of Vehicle Safety, 2008 Vol.3 No.1, pp.45 - 59

Published online: 25 Aug 2008 *

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Title: Continuous overturn control of compactors/rollers by rollover protective structures

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