A positioning and safety apparatus for controlling the position of a movable component of a mechanical system, the component being movable with respect to a fixed structure, and for exhibiting a safety function when the movable component is subjected to a force that exceeds a pre-defined limit, the positioning and safety apparatus comprising: a control part, which in use, is mounted on the fixed structure and pivotable with respect to the fixed structure about a pivot axis, the control part having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end with respect to the pivot axis, the first end of the control part, when in use, being connected to the movable component so that a rotation of the control part about the pivot axis actuates a movement of the component, an actuator configured to actuate the rotation of the control part about the pivot axis so as to thereby actuate the movement of the component in order to control its position, and wherein: the apparatus further comprises an auxiliary part, the actuator is configured to act upon the auxiliary part, the auxiliary part is tied to the second end of the control part by a spring force, and remains so when the component is subjected to a force lower than the pre-defined limit, the auxiliary part is configured to become untied from the second end of the control part, when the component is subjected to a force higher than the pre-defined limit, thereby allowing the component to move freely towards a stop position, the actuator is configured to be able to return the auxiliary part to the position wherein it is tied to the control part, thereby resuming control of the position of the component, and characterized in that the auxiliary part, when in use, is pivotable with respect to the fixed structure about the same pivot axis as the control part. a control part, which in use, is mounted on the fixed structure and pivotable with respect to the fixed structure about a pivot axis, the control part having a first end and a second end, opposite to the first end with respect to the pivot axis, the first end of the control part, when in use, being connected to the movable component so that a rotation of the control part about the pivot axis actuates a movement of the component, an actuator configured to actuate the rotation of the control part about the pivot axis so as to thereby actuate the movement of the component in order to control its position, and wherein: the apparatus further comprises an auxiliary part, the actuator is configured to act upon the auxiliary part, the auxiliary part is tied to the second end of the control part by a spring force, and remains so when the component is subjected to a force lower than the pre-defined limit, the auxiliary part is configured to become untied from the second end of the control part, when the component is subjected to a force higher than the pre-defined limit, thereby allowing the component to move freely towards a stop position, the actuator is configured to be able to return the auxiliary part to the position wherein it is tied to the control part, thereby resuming control of the position of the component, and characterized in that the auxiliary part, when in use, is pivotable with respect to the fixed structure about the same pivot axis as the control part. the apparatus further comprises an auxiliary part, the actuator is configured to act upon the auxiliary part, the auxiliary part is tied to the second end of the control part by a spring force, and remains so when the component is subjected to a force lower than the pre-defined limit, the auxiliary part is configured to become untied from the second end of the control part, when the component is subjected to a force higher than the pre-defined limit, thereby allowing the component to move freely towards a stop position, the actuator is configured to be able to return the auxiliary part to the position wherein it is tied to the control part, thereby resuming control of the position of the component, and characterized in that the auxiliary part, when in use, is pivotable with respect to the fixed structure about the same pivot axis as the control part.