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. 2021 Aug 16;18(16):8643.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18168643.

Machinery Safety and Ergonomics: A Case Study Research to Augment Agricultural Tracklaying Tractors' Safety and Usability

Davide Gattamelata  1 , Leonardo Vita  1 , Mario Fargnoli  2
Affiliations

Machinery Safety and Ergonomics: A Case Study Research to Augment Agricultural Tracklaying Tractors' Safety and Usability

Davide Gattamelata et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in agricultural activities is an issue of major concern worldwide notwithstanding the ever stricter regulations issued in this sector. In particular, most accidents are related to the use of tractors and the main causes of this phenomenon are due to the lack of rollover protective structures (ROPSs). This happens especially when tractors are used in particular in-field operations that are characterized by limited clearances between tractor and crop rows so that farmers usually use tractors without ROPS (e.g., dismounting it). To solve such a problem, foldable protective structures (FROPSs) have been proposed, which should augment the operator's protection. However, FROPS's conventional solutions underestimate the operators' risk-taking behavior and the widespread misuse of FROPS due to the efforts needed to operate it. The current study aims at contributing to the improvement of the latter issue proposing the development of a novel approach for the implementation of partial assistance systems (PASs) that can reduce the physical effort of the operator when raising/lowering the FROPS. The proposed methodology, which is based on a reverse engineering approach, was verified by means of a practical case study on a tracklaying tractor. Results achieved can contribute to expanding knowledge on technical solutions aimed at improving the human-machinery interaction in the agricultural sector.

Keywords: agricultural tractors; ergonomics; human behavior; machinery safety; partial assistance system (PAS); reverse engineering; roll-over protective structure (ROPS).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Occupational fatal accidents that occurred in Italy in agriculture (data elaborated from [5]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scheme of the accessible zones of the grasping area considering a wheeled tractor where measures are expressed in mm (elaborated from [17]).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scheme of the research approach.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Main features of the FROPS: CG represents the center of gravity; H represents the length of the FROPS from the joint plate; OH represents the length of the FROPS’s foldable part from the hinge point O; HS is the FROPS’ whole height from the seat; α is the folding angle, while Δα is its complementary angle.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Grasping points in the accessible area shown from the side view (elaborated from [17]).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Top view of the tractor and positions of the operator when handling the FROPS (measures are expressed in mm).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Positions of the grasping points to handle the FROPS (measures are expressed in mm).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Scheme of the PAS selection procedure.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Features of the anchorage points of the PAS (lateral view).
Figure 10
Figure 10
Details of the gas-spring assembling points.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Main features of the PAS.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Variation of the moments involved in the FROPS handling in relation to the FROPS angle.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Practical tests concerning the raising operations.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Practical tests concerning the lowering operations.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Practical tests of usability by farmers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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