An Ergonomic Investigation of Hand Switch Operation

About 4 percent of all lost time injuries in the railroad industry are associated with the operation of hand switches. These injuries cost about $30 million a year in claims. The authors investigated the operation of vertically operated, ground level switch stands. The authors used biomechanics to evaluate methods workers use to operate this type of switch stand. The authors found some operating methods to be less stressful than others. The authors developed procedures that could be used to compare the back compression experienced and strength needed by workers with guidelines for back compression and strength that have been established by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The authors also found that current procedures for maintenance of switches and switch stands, when applied to the switches they evaluated, reduced (on average) the forces needed to move the lever arm so that the back compression experienced and strength needed of the worker were within the NIOSH guidelines. Lastly, the authors provide an EXAMPLE analysis of alternative designs for switch stand levers that illustrates how human performance criteria might be helpful in developing and evaluating such designs.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/77349
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Center for Ergonomics
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109

  Association of American Railroads

  Research and Test Department
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Authors:
  • Page, George B
  • McMahan, Paul B
• Publication Date: 1990-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Research Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Glossary; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 74p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Ergonomics; Injuries; Maintenance; Occupational safety; Operators (Persons); Railroads; Switches (Railroads)
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01930268
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: R-715
• Contract Numbers: ESD-87-024
• Files: NTL, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 15 2024 5:48PM