78820 - Agricoltural Mechanics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is expected to know the most used agricultural machines and the main agricultural processes, and be aware of the health and safety aspects related to the use of agricultural machinery.

Course contents

• Introduction
• Standards
• Developments in legislation on health and safety. Hierarchy of the sources. Consolidated Law on Safety (d.leg.vo 81/2008). Machine Directives.
• The risk: General Aspects and Methodological
• Equipment and protective systems. General Precautions. The risks related to the use of machinery and work equipment within agricultural field. Evaluation indexes. Machinery classification.
• The risk categories identification.
• Risk assessment. Phases and activities of the evaluation and treatment of the risk process.
• Injuries and fatalities in Agriculture: overview.
• Agricultural tractor: overview and advancements in safety and ergonomics. Tractor classification. Tractor rollover: rollover accidents; lateral and longitudinal tractor stability. Protection against tractor rollover: ROPS, FOPS, cabins, standards and homologation.
• Pesticides: definitions, standards, efficiency of treatment.
• Vibrations and noise control of agricultural machineries.

Readings/Bibliography

• Lecture notes
• Bodria, Pellizzi, Piccarolo, Meccanica Agraria - volume I: il trattore e le macchine operatrici, Edagricole, Bologna, 2013
• Oddo A., Banedetti E., Petringa Nicolosi R. – La Sicurezza delle macchine e attrezzature di lavoro. Wolters Kluwer Italia S.r.l.
• Patrizia Cinquina – Sicurezza e prevenzione in agricoltura. Maggioli Editore

Teaching methods

Lectures in class.

During the course, seminars will be planned and will be held by experts in the field.

Assessment methods

The final exam will consist in an oral examination. The online exam confirmation is mandatory.

Students wishing to take the examination in English are allowed

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Valenti