Noise and vibration are important risk factors for agricultural operators. In fact, musculoskeletal disorders of occupational origin linked to exposure to vibrations in the workplace have continuously increased in recent years and are followed, in terms of reported cases, by pathologies of the auditory system linked to noise exposure. In agriculture, the use of machinery for various cultivation operations involves exposure to these risk factors at levels that are often higher than the action values defined by the laws transposing European directives. In almond cultivation, as in other crops, harvesting is one of the most mechanized operations. The objective of this research is to carry out a comparison on workers’ exposure to noise and vibrations during almond harvesting organized in three different harvest yards: 1. Harvesting with a FACMA Semek 1000 self-propelled harvester; 2. Harvesting with Vimar MK2 shaker operated by John Deere 5105 GF tractor; 3. Harvest with Berardinucci Yellow Devil Vini 260 P self-propelled harvester. The average equivalent noise levels detected in the field, during harvesting in farms in central Italy, were respectively 84.6, 79.2 and 83.2 dB(A) with very similar maximum peak levels (137.7, 137.3 and 137.9 dB(C) respectively). The weighted accelerations transmitted to the whole body, detected on the most stressed axis (mainly y in yard 1 and x in 3, while in 2 the two axes are equally stressed) were, respectively, 0.29, 0.40 and 0.24 ms−2. The results show how the factor that most penalizes workers’ exposure is noise and, in particular, the peak values that exceed the upper action value of 137 dB(C) and which entail the application of specific prevention obligations towards exposed workers. Even with regards to exposures for prolonged periods, it is the noise which, in the case of harvest yards 1 and 3, can cause the action values to be exceeded, in the case of use of the machines for daily times exceeding 435 and 305 min respectively.
Riccioni, S., Assettati, L., Bianchini, L., Coltrinari, G., Monarca, D., Cecchini, M. (2025). Exposure to Noise and Vibrations for Workers Involved in Mechanized Almond Harvesting. In Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering (pp.389-395). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH [10.1007/978-3-031-84212-2_48].
Exposure to Noise and Vibrations for Workers Involved in Mechanized Almond Harvesting
Bianchini L.;Coltrinari G.;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Noise and vibration are important risk factors for agricultural operators. In fact, musculoskeletal disorders of occupational origin linked to exposure to vibrations in the workplace have continuously increased in recent years and are followed, in terms of reported cases, by pathologies of the auditory system linked to noise exposure. In agriculture, the use of machinery for various cultivation operations involves exposure to these risk factors at levels that are often higher than the action values defined by the laws transposing European directives. In almond cultivation, as in other crops, harvesting is one of the most mechanized operations. The objective of this research is to carry out a comparison on workers’ exposure to noise and vibrations during almond harvesting organized in three different harvest yards: 1. Harvesting with a FACMA Semek 1000 self-propelled harvester; 2. Harvesting with Vimar MK2 shaker operated by John Deere 5105 GF tractor; 3. Harvest with Berardinucci Yellow Devil Vini 260 P self-propelled harvester. The average equivalent noise levels detected in the field, during harvesting in farms in central Italy, were respectively 84.6, 79.2 and 83.2 dB(A) with very similar maximum peak levels (137.7, 137.3 and 137.9 dB(C) respectively). The weighted accelerations transmitted to the whole body, detected on the most stressed axis (mainly y in yard 1 and x in 3, while in 2 the two axes are equally stressed) were, respectively, 0.29, 0.40 and 0.24 ms−2. The results show how the factor that most penalizes workers’ exposure is noise and, in particular, the peak values that exceed the upper action value of 137 dB(C) and which entail the application of specific prevention obligations towards exposed workers. Even with regards to exposures for prolonged periods, it is the noise which, in the case of harvest yards 1 and 3, can cause the action values to be exceeded, in the case of use of the machines for daily times exceeding 435 and 305 min respectively.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
