Detecting infiltrated water and preferential flow pathways through time-lapse ground-penetrating radar surveys.

The objective of this paper was to identify the incidence and extent of preferential flow at two experimental areas located in Lyon, France. We used time-lapse ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys in conjunction with automatized single-ring infiltration experiments to create three-dimensional (3D) representations of infiltrated water. In total we established three 100 cm × 100 cm GPR grids and used differenced radargrams from pre- and post-infiltration surveys to detect wetting patterns.

Tailoring Safety Training Material to Migrant Farmworkers: An Ergonomic User-Centred Approach.

Lectures are the most commonly used training method but may not be effective in communicating safety information among migrant workers because of language and cultural barriers. The comprehension of safety information is particularly urgent in highly hazardous sectors such as agriculture, which has a high migrant workforce rate. In this study, an ergonomic user-centred approach was adopted to develop and evaluate safety training material targeting migrants employed on Italian farms.

Conveying Safety Messages on Agricultural Machinery: The Comprehension of Safety Pictorials in a Group of Migrant Farmworkers in Italy.

The comprehension of safety signs affixed to agricultural machinery is fundamental to warning users about the residual risks which cannot be eliminated with machinery design and the adoption of protections. This is particularly relevant for the migrant workforce, which may encounter some language barriers with written safety communication. The present study aimed to investigate the comprehension of safety signs affixed to agricultural machinery in a group of migrants from both European and non-European countries employed in Italian agriculture.

Comprehension of Safety Pictograms Affixed to Agricultural Machinery among Pakistani Migrant Farmworkers in Italy.

: Safety pictograms are important graphic elements that are useful for rapidly conveying messages in workplaces. The purpose of this study was to investigate the comprehension of safety pictograms affixed to agricultural machinery among a group of Pakistani migrant farmworkers employed in Italy. : Interviews about the meanings attributed to four standardized safety pictograms affixed to agricultural machinery depicting the most frequent causes of farm accidents were administered to 29 Pakistani migrant farmworkers employed on Italian farms.

Tractor Rollover Protection: Is the Incorrect Use of Foldable Rollover Protective Structures Due to Human or to Technical Issues?

Objective: To identify the critical behaviors that may hinder the correct use of foldable rollover protective structures (FROPS) on tractors and to explore the influence of user factors and FROPS technical characteristics.

Background: FROPS are effective in preventing fatal injuries in rollover accidents if they are in the upright position. However, many farmers leave FROPS folded down.

Risk Assessment for Musculoskeletal Disorders in Forestry: A Comparison between RULA and REBA in the Manual Feeding of a Wood-Chipper.

The analysis of the postural attitude of workers during the interaction with workstation's elements and working environment is essential in the evaluation and prevention of biomechanical overload risk in workplaces. RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) and REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) are the two easiest methods for postural risk assessment in the workplace. Few studies investigated postural risk in forestry sector with regard to human⁻machine interaction, in particular manually fed wood-chippers.

Warning against Critical Slopes in Agriculture: Comprehension of Targeted Safety Signs in a Group of Machinery Operators in Italy.

Steep slopes are the main cause of rollover incidents in agriculture. Targeted safety signs have been developed to warn machinery operators against risky slopes. However, machinery user's manuals and road signs report information regarding slope steepness in two different ways, by using the tilt angle in degrees and the slope percentage, respectively.

Effects of rows arrangement, soil management, and rainfall characteristics on water and soil losses in Italian sloping vineyards.

Erosional processes are highly affected by seasonal climatic fluctuations and soil management practices. Controlled grass cover is one of the most used soil conservation practices adopted in temperate climates, even if the protective effect of grass cover may decrease according to seasonal pattern. This technique is effective and, thus, widely adopted in the inter-rows of orchards such as olives, citrus or vineyards.

Effectiveness of occupational safety and health training for migrant farmworkers: a scoping review.

Objectives: Migrant farmworkers report higher rates of work-related illnesses, injuries and fatalities compared with local workers. Language and cultural barriers represent a relevant source of risk, which can be reduced by means of targeted training interventions. However, very little evidence is available about the effectiveness of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training programmes addressing migrant farmworkers.

It does not occur by chance: a mediation model of the influence of workers' characteristics, work environment factors, and near misses on agricultural machinery-related accidents.

Agriculture is among the most hazardous productive sectors, and farm machinery is a major source of injury. In the present study, a mediated model was used to test the role played by workers' characteristics, work environment factors, and near misses in predicting agricultural machinery-related accidents in a sample of Italian users (n = 290). Hours worked per week (via the mediation of an adverse work environment) showed a positive association and years of work experience (via the mediation of risk perception) showed a negative association with the probability of being involved in a near miss, which in turn showed a positive association with the probability of being involved in a machinery-related accident.

Part-time farmers and accidents with agricultural machinery: a moderated mediated model on the role played by frequency of use and unsafe beliefs.

Objectives: We aimed at testing a model of the direct and indirect effects of being a part-time farmer on the probability of being involved in an agricultural machinery-related accident, considering the role played by unsafe beliefs and the frequency of use of machinery.

Methods: Two-hundred and fifty-two Italian men, regular users of agricultural machinery (age: Mean = 45.1 years, standard Deviation = 17.

Machinery-Related Perceived Risks and Safety Attitudes in Senior Swedish Farmers.

Objectives: To perform an ergonomic analysis of work and machinery-related risks in a group of Swedish older farmers, investigating farmers' attitudes and perceptions about: 1) health status and work motivation, 2) physical and cognitive workload and difficulties in the interaction with machinery and technological innovations, and 3) risks and safety practices.

Methods: Nine Swedish male farmers aged 65+ were administered a semi-structured interview and a questionnaire.

Results: Participants perceived themselves as being in good health and considered farming as a good proxy of their health status.

Three-axial evaluation of whole-body vibration in agricultural telehandlers: The effects of an active cab-suspension system.

Agricultural and earth-moving machinery operators are particularly exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV), which has severe effects on health and affects comfort and performance. Few studies have investigated vibrational safety and comfort issues in telescopic handlers. These vehicles are widespread in many off-road applications-such as construction, agriculture, and mining-used to handle loads and to lift persons and equipment.

Safety signs on agricultural machinery: Pictorials do not always successfully convey their messages to target users.

This study investigated the extent to which a sample of Italian users comprehended safety pictorials used on agricultural machinery. A questionnaire with 12 safety pictorials was administered to 248 users of agricultural machinery. For each of the pictorials, the participants were asked to select the most appropriate description of four written choices.

Comprehension of safety pictograms affixed to agricultural machinery: A survey of users.

Introduction: Pictograms affixed to agricultural machinery are important tools to reduce the occurrence of accidents and injuries when correctly noticed, comprehended, and followed. This study investigated the knowledge of safety pictograms used in agricultural machinery in a sample of farmers and farm workers and examined the factors influencing their comprehension.

Method: A questionnaire with 12 safety pictograms used for agricultural machinery was administered to 281 owners or users of agricultural machinery.

Operators' perception of comfort in two tractor cabs.

Workspace characteristics affect the perceived comfort level of the operator and uncomfortable working conditions have been found to have a negative impact on productivity and safety. The comfort of the operator is increasingly recognized by manufacturers as a product's added value. Comfort can positively distinguish a product and increase its competitiveness.