The design of a workstation should be dependent on the user and the task that needs to be accomplished. Poor workstation design can cause undo stress on the operator and can lead to a loss of productivity. Workstations that are laid out poorly may cause the operator to use excessive force, require awkward postures, and cause excess repetitive motion, all of which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. The work in this topic area is supported by the NIOSH Mining Ergonomics program. See the NIOSH Mining Products page for software, guides, training materials or other items related to this topic.
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Guides
A Checklist for Evaluating Cab Design of Construction Equipment (PDF, 45 KB, 2003)
This article introduces a one-page checklist for evaluating cab design of construction equipment. The cab design evaluation checklist was developed, pilot-tested, and used to measure several characteristics of cab design. A case study is presented in which overall cab design scores were calculated for each type of equipment.
Seating Design Principles
This guide focuses on the first principles for seating design for underground mobile mining equipment.
Underground Workstation Design Principles
This guide focuses on designing the overall layout of workstations with emphasis on features for underground mining applications.
Measurement & analysis
Comparison of Jolting and Jarring in a Newer and Older Dozer at a Highway Construction Site (PDF, 202 KB, 2003)
This field study evaluated a newer and older dozer at a construction site. Jolting and jarring measurements were taken at the seat/operator interface and at the floor of the cab. The result of this field study indicates that the newer dozer was better than the older dozer.
Ergonomic and Existing Seat Designs Compared on Underground Mine Haulage Vehicles (PDF, 1552 KB, 2003-10)
NIOSH researchers conducted a study to compare seat designs on underground coal mine haulage vehicles. The objective of the study was to support prior findings that NIOSH-designed seats, which incorporated ergonomics design features (e.g., viscoelastic foam padding and low-back support), are improved designs. The authors summarize the data collected and operator preferences for seat designs and different foam padding arrangements.
Evaluation of Seat Designs Relative to Transmitted Vehicle Vibration on Underground Mine Transport Vehicles (PDF, 277 KB, 2006)
This study focused on reducing injury risk by improving seating on transport vehicles such as scoops, mantrips, personnel carriers, and rail-mounted locomotives. Proposed seat design improvements included layering of various types of viscoelastic foam padding to isolate vehicle occupants and operators from adverse health effects of jarring/jolting exposure.
Flammability of Noise Abatement Materials Used in Cabs of Mobile Mining Equipment (PDF, 207 KB, 2003)
Describes the flammability tests conducted on 15 to 20 different noise abatement materials of various chemical compositions and thickness.
Laboratory Investigation of Seat Suspension Design Performance during Vibration Testing (PDF, 502 KB, 2006)
Researchers performed laboratory studies on four passive and two semi-active seat suspension designs. These six seat suspension systems were tested and analyzed, for vertical vibration only, using the ISO 5007 Standard.
Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Operators of Heavy Construction Equipment (PDF, 118 KB, 2003-08)
This study assessed the adequacy of cab design and determined the percentage of musculoskeletal symptoms among operators of heavy construction equipment. Workers through a questionnaire adminstered to 189 operators. The results indicate that these workers are at risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders, the need to perform a larger survey to further substantiate the outcome, and the need to quantify risk factors (i.e., whole-body vibration and static sitting postures).
Upper Extremity Joint Moment and Force Predictions When Using a Joystick Control (PDF, 318 KB, 2007-06)
This paper discusses the application of digital human models (DHM) to examine computer-generated forces necessary to move specific joysticks by using roof bolter virtual operators to predict the forces experienced on the operator's upper extremities. Using DHM and simulations of static movements, investigators analyzed predictions of joint moment and joint force effects on virtual operator's right wrist, elbow and shoulder and compared them to different body dimensions and work postures.
Engineering controls
Comfort Evaluation for Mine Shuttle Car Seat Designs (PDF, 7595 KB, 2006)
Proper seat design is an important consideration in reducing the adverse effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure to vehicle operators. This study compared NIOSH and existing seat designs on low- and mid-coal seam shuttle cars. This paper focuses on seat designs for the mid-coal seam shuttle car and compares subjective comfort data collected from five vehicle operators with ISO 2631 - based reduced comfort boundary (RCB) analysis of recorded vibration levels.
Comparison of Seat Designs For Underground Mine Haulage Vehicles Using the Absorbed Power and Iso 2631-1(1985)-Based ACGIH Threshold Limit Methods (PDF, 1580 KB, 2005-07)
NIOSH researchers evaluated four seat designs on mine haulage vehicles with regard to roadway-induced jarring/jolting and operator comfort. In this paper, the performances of the seat designs are compared relative to the operator's exposure to vehicle vibration (mainly jarring/jolting).
Field Evaluation of Seat Designs for Underground Coal Mine Shuttle Cars (PDF, 868 KB, 2006-11)
NIOSH researchers conducted a study to evaluate seat designs on low- and mid-coal-seam shuttle cars. The purpose was to gather additional data to support earlier findings that NIOSH seats, with unique viscoelastic foam padding, are improved designs for coal mine shuttle cars. This study included a larger sample of shuttle car operators than a prior investigation. Eight operators evaluated seat designs on the basis of perceived levels of vehicle jarring/jolting and discomfort. Researchers then compared the operators perceptions with field-measured levels of vehicle jarring/jolting.
Field Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Continuous Passive Lumbar Motion System (PDF, 612 KB, 2005)
The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using a continuous passive lumbar motion system (CPLMS) in reducing low back discomfort among operators of heavy earthmoving equipment. Results indicate that the use of a CPLMS can effectively reduce the low back discomfort experienced by operators of heavy construction equipment.
Pneumatic Active Suspension Design for Heavy Vehicle Seats and Operator Ride Comfort (PDF, 2595 KB, 2006)
Handling of heavy vehicles such as tractors, trucks and buses require a large roll stiffness which causes large high accelerations at the seat level during impacts. To provide comfort and minimize the energy transfer from the chassis and the seat a pneumatic active seat suspension is proposed.
Predicting System Interactions in the Design Process (PDF, 52 KB, 1999-09)
Almost every process has a predecessor, and studying the predecessor helps to define needs and shortcomings to be addressed in the design. This paper illustrates how such an approach was used to assess remote machine operation in underground coal mines.
Repeatability of a Checklist for Evaluation Cab Design Characteristics of Heavy Mobile Equipment (PDF, 288 KB, 2007-12)
This paper describes a study that assessed the repeatability of a cab design checklist developed to evaluate various design characteristics that can influence exposure to risk factors for musculoskeletal discomfort.
Systematic Comparison of Different Seats on Shuttle Cars Used in Underground Coal Mines (PDF, 192 KB, 2003)
A field study was conducted to evaluate four seat designs on shuttle cars, including two NIOSH-designed seats. Eight operators participated in evaluating seat designs on the basis of perceived levels of vehicle jarring/jolting and discomfort. Results from measured levels of jarring/jolting showed that the NIOSH seat L2A smoothed out bumps better than any other seats. Questionnaire responses showed that operators rated NIOSH seat designs as more comfortable.
Tips for Safer Mining Equipment (PDF, 1001 KB, 1996-10)
Equipment is the primary cause of injury in 11% of all mining accidents and a secondary cause in another 10%. Purchasers should select new equipment carefully to ensure that the machine incorporates good ergonomic design criteria that maximize the safety of their mine workers.
Information gateways
Office Ergonomics Training (http://www.office-ergo.com/)
This site contains office ergonomics information for ergonomics committee members as well as office workers in general. UCLA Ergonomics Website (http://ergonomics.ucla.edu/)
UCLA ergonomics site provides general information, tips and more.
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