Ergonomic principles of underground free-steered vehicle design: guidelines for designers. An investigation of underground haulage and transport systems: Appendix C. Final report on CEC Contract 7245-11/8/052

Eight prototype National Coal Board underground free-steered vehicles were evaluated in detail as part of a three-year ECSC sponsored project on Haulage and Transport Systems.The vehicles examined were examples of three types of vehicle; materials transporters for normal supplies duties; long load carrying materials transporters; and load/haul/dump vehicles. As a result of the evaluations, ergonomic guidelines were devised for the designers of underground free-steered vehicles. The aim of the guidelines is to ensure that future free-steered vehicle designs satisfy ergonomic principles so far as is practically possible.The guidelines are in sections dealing with the following aspects: Cab Workspace and Control Location; Seat Design; Cab Access; Driver Protection; Control Design; Control Layout; Displays; Visibility; Headlighting; and Maintenance Facilities.Within each section the ergonomic problems are outlined and discussed; ergonomic criteria which should ideally be satisfied by new designs are listed; and specific design guide “”