---
kind: "section"
citation: "30 C.F.R. § 57.14130"
title: "30"
number: "57.14130"
heading: "Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts for surface equipment."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/30/57.14130"
---

# §57.14130. Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts for surface equipment.

- (a) **Equipment included.** Roll-over protective structures (ROPS) and seat belts shall be installed on—
  - (1) Crawler tractors and crawler loaders;
  - (2) Graders;
  - (3) Wheel loaders and wheel tractors;
  - (4) The tractor portion of semi-mounted scrapers, dumpers, water wagons, bottom-dump wagons, rear-dump wagons, and towed fifth wheel attachments;
  - (5) Skid-steer loaders; and
  - (6) **Agricultural tractors.**
- (b) **ROPS construction.** ROPS shall meet the requirements of the following Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) publications, as applicable, which are incorporated by reference:
  - (1) SAE J1040, “Performance Criteria for Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) for Construction, Earthmoving, Forestry, and Mining Machines,”, 1986; or
  - (2) **SAE J1194, “Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) for Wheeled Agricultural Tractors”, 1983.**
- (c) **ROPS labeling.** ROPS shall have a label permanently affixed to the structure identifying—
  - (1) The manufacturer's name and address;
  - (2) The ROPS model number; and
  - (3) **The make and model number of the equipment for which the ROPS is designed.**
- (d) **ROPS installation.** ROPS shall be installed on the equipment in accordance with the recommendations of the ROPS manufacturer.
- (e) **ROPS maintenance.**
  - (1) ROPS shall be maintained in a condition that meets the performance requirements applicable to the equipment. If the ROPS is subjected to a roll-over or abnormal structural loading, the equipment manufacturer or a registered professional engineer with knowledge and experience in ROPS design shall recertify that the ROPS meets the applicable performance requirements before it is returned to service.
  - (2) Alterations or repairs on ROPS shall be performed only with approval from the ROPS manufacturer or under the instructions of a registered professional engineer with knowledge and experience in ROPS design. The manufacturer or engineer shall certify that the ROPS meets the applicable performance requirements.
- (f) **Exemptions.**
  - (1) **This standard does not apply to—**
    - (i) Self-propelled mobile equipment manufactured prior to July 1, 1969;
    - (ii) Over-the-road type tractors that pull trailers or vans on highways;
    - (iii) Equipment that is only operated by remote control; and
  - (2) Self-propelled mobile equipment manufactured prior to October 24, 1988, that is equipped with ROPS and seat belts that meet the installation and performance requirements of [30 CFR 57.9088](/cfr/30/57.9088.md) (1986 edition) shall be considered in compliance with paragraphs [(b)](#b) and [(h)](#h) of this section.
- (g) **Wearing seat belts.** Seat belts shall be worn by the equipment operator except that when operating graders from a standing position, the grader operator shall wear safety lines and a harness in place of a seat belt.
- (h) **Seat belts construction.** Seat belts required under this section shall meet the requirement of SAE J386, “Operator Restraint System for Off-Road Work Machines” (1985, 1993, or 1997), or SAE J1194, “Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) for Wheeled Agricultural Tractors” (1983, 1989, 1994, or 1999), as applicable, which are incorporated by reference.
- (i) **Seat belt maintenance.** Seat belts shall be maintained in functional condition, and replaced when necessary to assure proper performance.
- (j) **Publications.** The incorporation by reference of these publications is approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. [552(a)](/usc/5/552.md?p=a) and [1](/usc/5/1.md) CFR [part 51](/cfr/30/part51.md). Copies of these publications may be examined at any Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health District Office; at MSHA's Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210; 202-693-9440; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Copies may be purchased from the Society of Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001; 724-776-4841; http://www.sae.org.

## Notes

### Amendments

[53 FR 32528, Aug. 25, 1988; 53 FR 44588, Nov. 4, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 33722, June 29, 1995; 67 FR 38385, June 4, 2002; 68 FR 19347, Apr. 21, 2003; 80 FR 52988, Sept. 2, 2015; 91 FR 9448, Feb. 26, 2026]

### Source

Source: 53 FR 32528, Aug. 25, 1988, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 30 U.S.C. 811.

### Source

Source: 50 FR 4082, Jan. 29, 1985, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[53 FR 32528, Aug. 25, 1988; 53 FR 44588, Nov. 4, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 33722, June 29, 1995; 67 FR 38385, June 4, 2002; 68 FR 19347, Apr. 21, 2003; 80 FR 52988, Sept. 2, 2015; 91 FR 9448, Feb. 26, 2026]