ABSTRACT:
This study aimed to develop and validate an ergonomics index for the operator workplace assessment of agricultural tractors sold in the Brazilian market. To develop the ergonomics index, the operator work places were assessed for compliance with current, national and international, safety and ergonomics standards. The following standards were analyzed to develop ergonomics index: ISO 15077 (1996)ISO. (INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION). ISO 15077: tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry: operator controls: actuating forces, their displacement and location. Genève, 1996. 14p., which regulates the position of operator controls; ABNT NBR ISO 4254-1(2015)ABNT. (ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE NORMAS TÉCNICAS). ABNT NBR ISO 4252: tratores agrícolas: local de trabalho do operador, acesso e saída: dimensões. Rio de Janeiro, 2011. 6p. and ABNT NBR ISO 4252 (2011)ABNT. (ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE NORMAS TÉCNICAS). ABNT NBR ISO 4254-1: máquinas agrícolas - segurança parte 1: requisitos gerais. Rio de Janeiro, 2015. 48p., which regulate the access to operator workplaces; and NR 12 (2010), which determines the mandatory items of operator workplaces.Thirty-four operator work places of 152 models of new agricultural tractors sold in the Brazilian market were analyzed in this study. Ergonomics index was developed and validated using these standards, and the findings enabled the ranking of agricultural tractors. Therefore, the proposed ergonomics index proved feasible and may be applied to other agricultural machines.
Key words:
ergonomics; safety; operator controls; access; standards