Anthropometric measures important for control panel design in locomotive or railcar

Abstract

Original scientific paper Frequently used commands on the locomotive or railcar control panel need to be arranged mainly within the normal reach of the arm, using multi-purpose controllers for serving several important and frequently used functions by one hand, whenever possible. From the measured anthropometric measures in the central 90 % from the sufficient and random sample of 50 engine drivers the range of normal and maximal reach of arm has been defined using statistical methods for the entire population in Croatia. The ranges of statistical anthrompometric measures of the engine drivers are the constitutional factors from the group "human factor", and according to Fuller TCI model "task requirement -driver's capability" affect the difficulty of the task during driving. The correlation dependence of lumbar moment Ml on the index of mass BMI has been proven in the hypothetically most unfavourable statistical seating working position, and based on the really measured statistical anthropometric measures. Keywords: anthropometric measures; central 90 %; engine drivers; human factor; normal and maximal reach of arm; task difficultyAntropomjere bitne za dizajn upravljačke ploče u lokomotivi ili motornoj garnituri Izvorni znanstveni članak Često korištene komande na upravljačkoj ploči lokomotive ili motorne garniture potrebno je rasporediti pretežito unutar normalnog dosega ruku, uz korištenje višenamjenskih kontrolera za posluživanje više bitnih i često korištenih funkcija jednom rukom, kada god je to moguće. Iz izmjerenih antropomjera u središnjih 90 % od dovoljnog i slučajnog uzorka od 50 strojovođa statističkim metodama definiran je raspon normalnog i maksimalnog dosega ruku za cijelu populaciju u RH. Rasponi statičkih antropomjera strojovođa su konstitucijski čimbenici iz grupe "ljudskog faktora", a prema Fullerovom TCI modelu "zahtjev zadaće-sposobnost vozača" utječu na težinu zadaće tijekom vožnje. Dokazana je korelacijska ovisnost lumbalnog momenta Ml o indeksu tjelesne mase ITM u hipotetski najnepovoljnijem statičkom sjedećem radnom položaju, a na temelju stvarno izmjerenih statičkih antropomjera.Ključne riječi: antropomjere; ljudski faktor; normalni i maksimalni doseg ruku; središnjih 90 %; strojovođe; težina zadaće

Lumbar Moment Estimation of Engine Drivers in a Static Sitting Working Position by using Multiple Linear Regression

“…Table 5 shows a comparison of analytically calculated value of lumbar moment based on the measurement of static anthropometric measures [6] with the three above-analysed regression predictions for lumbar moment given by three different regression Equations 1, 16, and 18.…”

“…Back in 1984, it was established that the lumbar moment and intra-abdominal pressure can be used to estimate human physical effort in static body positions [10]. This additional study had been based on previously measured static and kinematic anthropometric measurements for 50 male engine drivers from Croatia [6]. In the simplified calculation i.e.…”

“…This chapter is taken in abbreviated form from the previous paper [6], with the aim of briefly explaining how the amount of lumbar moment for each individual male engine driver can be calculated in sagittal plane, according to Figure 1, in the least favourable hypothetical static equilibrium working position, with both arms horizontally extended in the zone of maximal reach.…”

“…In a previous study [6], prediction of the lumbar moment value M ly at the level of vertebra L4/L5 with the predictor of the body mass index (BMI) has been determined in the hypothetically most unfavourable static seating working position of engine drivers, as a measure for the driver's physical workload. Regression equation M ly (BMI) has an acceptable correlation dependence of medium strength, with correlation coefficient r = 0.764 (Equation 1).…”

A New Approach to Ergonomic Physical Risk Evaluation in Multi-Purpose Workplaces

“…Thus, in the meaning of this definition, specialists, engineers should incorporate ergonomics in the design and assessment process to adapt them to the needs, abilities and limitations of workers, taking into account both mental workload [2] and physical exertion. Many factors influence workload, including: workstation layout, job design, tasks and working methods, tools and their design [3], as well as the anthropometric characteristics of workers [4].…”