Most commercial riding mowers and some homeowner mowers come equipped with a Rollover Protection System (ROPS) to keep the operator safe in case the mower tips, flips, or rolls over. On some models, it is an optional feature which can be folded down or removed completely. Usually however, it’s a good idea to keep the ROPS engaged.
Mowing Near Slopes
Slopes with a 0° to 15° incline are safe for zero-turn riding mowers or tractor mowers. Tractor mowers work well on slopes with a 15° to 22° incline. For slopes with a steeper incline, string trimmers or push mowers are a safer option even if you’re mowing with an ROPS system.
When mowing near steep slopes or drop-offs, Green Industry Pro magazine’s July 2015 article Safety Tip: Your ROPS Is There for a Reason recommends maintaining a 5-foot buffer zone. Push mowers and string trimmers are the best choices for cutting grass in this buffer zone to protect against the dangers of flipping or rolling a riding mower.
Riding Mower Safety Tips
Mowers are more likely to flip over on slopes, so it’s very important to have the ROPS engaged when mowing on uneven or sloping terrain. You can lower or remove the ROPS bar, frame or cab to mow underneath obstacles like trees while on flat ground, but remember to replace it when mowing the rest of the yard.
The ROPS won’t work unless the operator is wearing their seat belt. The rollover bar keeps a rolling mower from crushing an operator who is held in place on the seat, so remembering to wear the seatbelt is just as important as engaging the ROPS.
Mowers With ROPS
The ROPS on eXmak’s Pioneer E-Series and Lazer Z E-Series is engineered to divert branches away from the operator as well as keep them safe in the case of a rollover. The ROPS folds easily for transport, and so you can temporarily fold the ROPS down to mow under low-hanging tree branches.
Scag mowers are designed with a low center of gravity to make them safer on slopes, and also equipped with different ROPS designs for the different mower series. The Freedom Z mowers feature a fixed-position ROPS while Turf Tiger mowers feature a folding ROPS. The mowers also have convenient retractable seat belts.
Toro’s commercial mowers, including the Z Master and Titan series, are also designed with a low center of gravity and come equipped with folding ROPS. The folding system locks when in use, but is easy to unlock and lower for transport or mowing under obstacles.
