http://http://dspace.unitus.it:80 The DSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. 2013-05-25T04:28:44Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1804 Title: The risk of musculoskeletal disorders for workers due to repetitive movements during tomato Authors: Cecchini, Massimo; Colantoni, Andrea; Massantini, Riccardo; Monarca, Danilo Abstract: Tomatoes are the most common crop in Italy. The production cycle requires operations in the field and factory that can cause musculoskeletal disorders due to the repetitive movements of the upper limbs of the workers employed in the sorting phase. This research aims to evaluate these risks using the OCRA (occupational repetitive actions) index method. This method is based firstly on the calculation of a maximum number of recommended actions, related to the way the operation is performed, and secondly on a comparison of the number of actions effectively carried out by the upper limb with the recommended calculated value. The results of the risk evaluation for workers who manually sort tomatoes during harvest showed a risk for the workers, with an exposure index greater than 20; the OCRA index defines an index higher than 3.5 as unacceptable. Th e present trend of replacing manual sorting onboard a vehicle with optical sorters seems to be appropriate to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and is supported from both a financial point of view and as a quality control measure. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.asabe.org/ 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1807 Title: Mantenimento della qualità organolettica in alcuni ortofrutticoli tipici della regione Lazio minimamente processati Authors: Massantini, Riccardo; Moscetti, Roberto; Cecchini, Massimo; Monarca, Danilo Abstract: The research has the aim of enhancing the storability of some lightly processed foods typical of Lazio Region. The vegetables involved in this research are: artichoke, fennel, zucchini squash and chicory. Results shown reveal the importance of using first quality raw material, low temperature (5°C) through the entire process, and chlorinated water (100 ppm). In addition to this, a packaging using a low permeability plastic film, controlled atmosphere and a storage temperature of 4°C are crucial to slow down tissue browning, to reduce water loss and to maintain the organoleptic quality requested by the consumer. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.soihs.it/ 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1805 Title: Proprietà nutrizionali-salutistiche e conservazione della frutta secca in guscio Authors: Contini, Marina; Cecchini, Massimo; Massantini, Riccardo; Moscetti, Roberto; Monarca, Danilo Abstract: Tree nuts are tasty dry fruits rich in lipids. They are a calorie-dense and nutritious foodstuff, which provides valuable macronutrients, micronutrients, and several health-promoting phytochemicals, among which: phytosterols, squalene, selenium, tocopherols and phenolic antioxidants. The high level of calories has traditionally conditioned and limited the consumption of tree nuts; however, it has been recently evidenced that moderate consumption of these fruits doesn’t influence body weight, whilst it could be beneficial for human wellness, reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases and several chronic alterations associated with oxidative stress, such as: various types of cancer, type-2 diabetes, resistance to insulin, gall stones and inflammations, among others. The low humidity and the low respiratory activity even at room temperature allow for preservation of the tree nuts for lengthy periods, when stored in suitable and controlled conditions. Quality maintenance is guaranteed by means of correct harvesting, handling and storage practices. The main storage problems regard: fat hydrolytic and oxidative alterations; moulds, especially when due to the aflatoxin producer Aspergillus; insect infestations (mites, beetles and lepidopterans). Aspergillus contamination may occur at various stages including crop growth, but it occurs mainly during storage under unhygienic, unventilated, hot and humid conditions; it is particularly deleterious because aflatoxins are strong toxic, cancerogenic and teratogenic agents. The high fat content gives nuts the tendency to absorb foreign smells from the surrounding environment, which can alter the aroma; the richness in unsaturated (generally polyunsaturated) fatty acids is nutritionally favourable but makes the nuts particularly prone to rancidity. Therefore, in each phase the nuts must be protected from every potential damage, must not come into contact with micro-organisms or pollutants and must be preserved in clean storerooms, with no foreign or contaminating volatiles nor other types of fruits or vegetables. Storage at room temperature means short times of preservation and involves treatments with fumigants in order to prevent some of the problems above mentioned, causing a negative impact on the natural healthfulness of the product. Water content of the nuts, temperature, relative humidity, as well as exposure to light and oxygen are the most important preservation parameters to be kept under control; the best storage conditions are subject to variation according to the nut. In this manuscript the authors reported the chemical composition, as well as the nutritional and health-promoting properties of the most common tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and pistachios) and peanuts. They indicated macronutrients (lipids, proteins and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (minerals and vitamins) contents; moreover, they examined content and properties of the health-promoting phytochemical fraction. Depending on the nut, the best storing conditions and methods for extending the preservation without the aid of chemical treatments were individually described, with the aim of providing useful information for maintaining the quality of the product in the best possible way, for a long time. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.soihs.it/ 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1806 Title: Analysis of Anthropometric Compatibility of Agricultural Tractor Cabs Authors: Monarca, Danilo; Cecchini, Massimo; Santi, Massimo; Colantoni, Andrea Abstract: In agriculture, anthropometry has a remarkable relevance above all in design and realization of a tractor cab. The operators spend much time in driving tractors and an uncomfortable cab represents a risk for them. A space too narrow is extremely dangerous in case of overturning, for the collisions with the internal parts of the cab, and it can favour unintentional use of the commands with consequences on the behaviour of the vehicle. This paper is focused on experimental analysis of the internal dimension of tractor cabs. The main goal is to verify the respect of “the least overall dimensions” of the driver (according to UNI EN ISO 3411 standard), calculated on the biggest driver size, corresponding to the internal cab surface with no visible deformation. Measurements have been carried out on 15 tractors differently dimensioned and aged, later compared to the provided limits, in order to verify the least overall dimensions. The results show that all the cabs, also if approved in accordance with OECD standard, don’t respect one or more parameters provided by the UNI EN ISO 3411 standard. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/index 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1803 Title: Estimation of the risks of thermal stress due to the microclimate for manual fruit and vegetable harvesters in central Italy Authors: Cecchini, Massimo; Colantoni, Andrea; Massantini, Riccardo; Monarca, Danilo Abstract: Agricultural workers are exposed to various risks, including chemical agents, noise, and many other factors. One of the most characteristic and least known risk factors is constituted by the microclimatic conditions in the different phases of work (in field, in greenhouse, etc). A typical condition is thermal stress due to high temperatures during harvesting operations in open fields or in greenhouses. In Italy, harvesting is carried out for many hours during the day, mainly in the summer, with temperatures often higher than 30°C. According to ISO 7243, these conditions can be considered dangerous for workers’ health. The aim of this study is to assess the risks of exposure to microclimatic conditions (heat) for fruit and vegetable harvesters in central Italy by applying methods established by international standards. In order to estimate the risk for workers, the air temperature, radiative temperature, and air speed were measured using instruments in conformity with ISO 7726. Thermodynamic parameters and two more subjective parameters, clothing and the metabolic heat production rate related to the worker’s physical activity, were used to calculate the predicted heat strain (PHS) for the exposed workers in conformity with ISO 7933. Environmental and subjective parameters were also measured for greenhouse workers, according to ISO 7243, in order to calculate the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT). The results show a slight risk for workers during manual harvesting in the field. On the other hand, the data collected in the greenhouses show that the risk for workers must not be underestimated. The results of the study show that, for manual harvesting work in climates similar to central Italy, it is essential to provide plenty of drinking water and acclimatization for the workers in order to reduce health risks. Moreover, the study emphasizes that the possible health risks for greenhouse workers increase from the month of April through July. Description: L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.asabe.org/ 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1810 Title: Evaluation of respirable dust exposure during hazelnut and chestnut mechanized harvesting. Authors: Monarca, Danilo; Biondi, Paolo; Cecchini, Massimo; Santi, Massimo; Guerrieri, Mirko; Colantoni, Andrea Abstract: Atmospheric dust is defined in different ways but the most used classification are “total suspended dust” (T.S.D) and “particulate matter” (P.M.). A further distinction within the T.S.D. is about inhalable and respirable dust. Inhalable dust has an aerodynamic diameter between 5 and 10 m, while respirable dust presents a diameter between 0,5 and 5 m. Beside the dimension, the danger about dust regards other factors, like: concentration, chemical composition, individual absorption characteristics and exposure time. The mechanized harvesting of nuts, like hazelnuts and chestnuts, is carried out with specific machines that can be classified in three different types: pulled vacuum harvesters with aspirating tubes; pulled or tractor mounted harvesters with automatic picking system; self-propelled harvesters (aspirating or picking). In spite of installation of dust limitation devices, some studies have shown that dust concentration is still more elevated (up to 10 times) than the maximum limits indicated by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (A.C.G.I.H.). The objective of the present study is to evaluate the level of risk at which operators, during nut mechanized harvesting and using modern machines, are really exposed. In order to carry out this survey the data have been collected among some farms of the province of Viterbo (Italy); the farms selected have heterogeneous characteristics so that it is possible to obtain representative results for each type of working site and ground. 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1811 Title: Transmission of vibrations from portable agricultural machinery to the hand-arm system (HAV): risk evaluation and definition of exposure time for daily action and exposure limits. Authors: Monarca, Danilo; Biondi, Paolo; Cecchini, Massimo; Santi, Massimo; Guerrieri, Mirko; Colantoni, Andrea; Colopardi, Francesco Abstract: Every day agro-forestry workers are exposed to health and safety risks, due to work environment and the machineries they use. Some of these risks, vibrations for example, are usually underestimated by workers as well, because vibrations do not represent an immediate risk for the health. The vibrations can cause some professional diseases whose symptoms can appear after many years too. This is not a good reason to ignore the problem; in fact the consequences of a long exposure time can be very serious. A deeper knowledge of diseases caused by vibrations, laws, the best precautions and safety systems can represent a start to limit the phenomenon. The research about agro-forestry machineries can represent a stimulus to use ergonomic instruments in order to guarantee the health and the safety of the workers. The present research aims to highlight the importance of the exposure to vibrations in agro-forestry sector and its consequences on human health, above all the risks for the hand-arm system during the working day. Every machine has been directly analyzed to establish the level of vibrations produced according to the laws in force and the most recent ISO norms. With the collected data it was possible to establish the maximum exposure times for every instrument in order to respect the European Directive 2002/44/CE of 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibrations). 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1812 Title: Exposure to hand-arm and whole-body vibrations for workers employed to blowers Authors: Monarca, Danilo; Cecchini, Massimo; Guerrieri, Mirko; Colantoni, Andrea; Colopardi, Francesco Abstract: Six portable blowers were chosen in order to evaluate the potential risks to operators through their exposure to hand-arm and whole body vibrations. These evaluations are based on internationally standars, with particular reference to Italian legislation of August 19th, 2005, nr 187 (directive 2002/44/EC), which lays down specific measures regarding exposure to mechanical vibration and its affect on health and measures regarding exposure to mechanical vibration and its affect on health and safety. All the levels of accelerations normalized to 8 hours have been measured and referred to a 7 hours daily period of exposure, and all results checked against the exposure limit values. 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1814 Title: Risk due to heat during work in agricolture Authors: Bernini, Massimiliano; Cecchini, Massimo; Colantoni, Andrea; Monarca, Danilo Abstract: Work environments with high temperatures are defined severely hot environments, even if there is also a high level of humidity in the air, in relation to the characteristics of the type of work being carried out, and the clothes worn by the workers. In these environments in order to avoid accumulating heat, considerable care must be taken in the thermo-regulation system of the body, through perspiration and vasodilatation mechanisms. 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1815 Title: Study for the reduction of vibration levels on an “olive electrical harvester” Authors: Monarca, Danilo; Cecchini, Massimo; Colantoni, Andrea Abstract: Vibrations have always been considered as a risk factor and an object of evaluation in working environment, particularly for the agro-forestry sector, due to the high use of vibrating equipments. As a result of many tests carried out on the major “Olive Harvesters” equipments, it is possible to establish that during the harvesting the vibration exposure is higher than the limits defined from directive 2002/44/EC for the hand-arm system. In accordance with the law, the employer must reduce the risk below these limits, also purchasing equipments with a lower emission of vibrations, but this solution naturally can cause an increment of costs. Aim of the research is to define possible interventions, with low technical and economic impacts, for the reduction of the vibration transmitted to the hand-arm system of the workers. 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/1816 Title: The influence of cover crops and double harvest on storage of fresh hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) Authors: Massantini, Riccardo; Moscetti, Roberto; Monarca, Danilo; Cecchini, Massimo; Contini, Marina; Mordacchini Alfani, Maria Lorenza Abstract: Hazelnuts were grown on a naturally cover-cropped plor rather than tilled soil and then harvested either with a single or a double harvest. The data collected showed that the double harvest technique with cover crop enhanced the quality and state of preservation of hazelnuts. The costs regarding both growing techniques were estimated and it was determined that the double harvest and single harvest had the same costs, while cover cropping was economically advantageous in comparison to tillage. The fresh hazelnuts were stored for six months in order to evaluate their qualitative characteristics. 2008-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2067/2247 Title: Incidenza della raccolta meccanizzata sulle infestazioni di balanino (Curculio spp.) Authors: Paparatti, Bruno; Speranza, Stefano; Monarca, Danilo; Cecchini, Massimo Abstract: Sono state confrontate due tecniche di raccolta meccanizzata delle castagne con quella manuale per valutare il loro impatto sulle infestazioni di balanino. Dai dati ottenuti si evidenzia che la raccolta meccanizzata permette di asportare completamente i frutti dal terreno rimuovendo anche le castagne visivamente infestate e che ancora contengono al loro interno stadi preimmaginali del fitofago. Questa tecnica consente quindi di ridurre il potenziale di infestazione presente in pieno campo.; Two different techniques of mechanized harvest of chestnuts was compared with manual harvest to assess the weevil infestation. Collected data show that the mechanized harvest allows to remove completely the fruits from the soil, also removing the chestnuts visually infested and still containing the insects. This technique concurs therefore to reduce the problem of weevil infestation. 2004-12-31T23:00:00Z