Ergonomic Assessment of Occupational Health of Transport Operators

Abstract

The public transport operators are essential to the efficiency and safety of the public transit system, which in turn, relies upon the safety and well-being of transit operators in the performance of their jobs. The physical and psychological health of the transit operators is a critical factor in the driving performance. Any impairment could lead to undesirable consequences for the passengers. Transit operators develop important, common diseases and injuries to which their work is likely to be a causal or contributing factor. Such injuries and diseases have been identified by a substantial body of scientific research, including epidemiologic and mechanismbased studies. The major health outcomes of concern are cardiovascular diseases, which include hypertension, heart disease and stroke; lung and bladder cancer and possibly other cancers; emphysema and asthma; post-traumatic stress disorder and other stress-related psychological disturbances; along with low back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. Most available studies address the risk of disease among bus drivers; however, comparable studies among subway, maintenance and other transit workers are very limited. Occupational hazards of transit operators are uncommonly diverse and encompass much of the spectrum of occupational health. They include chemical, safety, ergonomic, physical, psychological and biological hazards. These exposures are matched to important, sometimes life-threatening outcomes, such as asbestos exposure and lung cancer; hypertension and heart disease; traumatic death and post-traumatic stress disorder; live electricity and electrocution; and vibration and disabling back injuries. Such diversity of hazards and associated diseases and injuries in a single industry is highly unusual in occupational health and presents an extraordinary opportunity for synergy in causing ill health. Despite new technological solutions and attempts to improve the working conditions during driving of vehicles, city bus drivers are still exposed to negative impacts of noise and vibrations, causing stress, increased fatigue and leads to numerous diseases. Therefore it seems merited to investigate the cabin ergonomics and the working conditions during the operation of transit vehicles, widely used in public transport systems. The main purpose of this research was to show the impacts that the conditions at work might have on bus drivers. No extensive major research was found to be done to investigate the influence of the conditions at work on functional stability of bus drivers. Investigation of vehicle in working (normal) environment are led rarely. Measurements often are done in idle run or during ride at maneuvering site only for 2-3 min. In this research results are presented for 4 h. until ride. All measurements are done in working environment on streets with passengers on board. Detailed numerical analysis of physical parameters like noise, light, temperature and humidity in the driver's cabin as well as physiological parameters like heart rate and grip strength are presented.