Bus Operator Workstation Design for Improving Occupational Health and Safety (2016)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

T R A N S I T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M TCRP REPORT 185 TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2016 www.TRB.org Research sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration in cooperation with the Transit Development Corporation Subject Areas Public Transportation Bus Operator Workstation Design for Improving Occupational Health and Safety c o n t r a c t p e r f o r m e d b y Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Blacksburg, VA w i t h s u p p o r t f r o m RMGillespie Consulting New York, NY a n d Sound Science, Inc. Ann Arbor, MI r e p o r t b y Robin Mary Gillespie Andrew Krum Darrell Bowman Stephanie Baker a n d Michael Belzer

TCRP REPORT 185 Project C-22 ISSN 1073-4872 ISBN 978-0-309-37544-3 © 2016 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FRA, FTA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, PHMSA, or TDC endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and the sponsors of the Transit Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM The nation’s growth and the need to meet mobility, environmental, and energy objectives place demands on public transit systems. Cur- rent systems, some of which are old and in need of upgrading, must expand service area, increase service frequency, and improve efficiency to serve these demands. Research is necessary to solve operating prob- lems, adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and introduce innovations into the transit industry. The Transit Coopera- tive Research Program (TCRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the transit industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for TCRP was originally identified in TRB Special Report 213—Research for Public Transit: New Directions, published in 1987 and based on a study sponsored by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration—now the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). A report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Transportation 2000, also recognized the need for local, problem- solving research. TCRP, modeled after the successful National Coop- erative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), undertakes research and other technical activities in response to the needs of transit ser- vice providers. The scope of TCRP includes various transit research fields including planning, service configuration, equipment, facilities, operations, human resources, maintenance, policy, and administrative practices. TCRP was established under FTA sponsorship in July 1992. Proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, TCRP was authorized as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). On May 13, 1992, a memorandum agreement outlining TCRP operating procedures was executed by the three cooperating organi- zations: FTA; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, acting through the Transportation Research Board (TRB); and the Transit Development Corporation, Inc. (TDC), a nonprofit educational and research organization established by APTA. TDC is responsible for forming the independent governing board, designated as the TCRP Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Committee. Research problem statements for TCRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the TOPS Committee to formulate the research program by identi- fying the highest priority projects. As part of the evaluation, the TOPS Committee defines funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each project is assigned to an expert panel appointed by TRB. The panels prepare project statements (requests for propos- als), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooperative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, TCRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Because research cannot have the desired effect if products fail to reach the intended audience, special emphasis is placed on disseminat- ing TCRP results to the intended users of the research: transit agen- cies, service providers, and suppliers. TRB provides a series of research reports, syntheses of transit practice, and other supporting material developed by TCRP research. APTA will arrange for workshops, train- ing aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are imple- mented by urban and rural transit industry practitioners. TCRP provides a forum where transit agencies can cooperatively address common operational problems. TCRP results support and complement other ongoing transit research and training programs. Published reports of the TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet by going to http://www.national-academies.org and then searching for TRB

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, non- governmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president. The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president. The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine. Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.national-academies.org. The Transportation Research Board is one of seven major programs of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to increase the benefits that transportation contributes to society by providing leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Board’s varied committees, task forces, and panels annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. Learn more about the Transportation Research Board at www.TRB.org.

C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank the participating bus manufacturer for their material support, which provided data that formed the foundation on which the bus operator workstation computer-aided design (CAD) model guidance was built. Furthermore, the human modeling simulation for validation of this model would not have been possible without the access to and support of the RAMSIS software provided by Andre Luebke and the Human Solutions of North America team. Additionally, engineering and modeling development would not have been possible without the creative expertise of Chris Garguilo, Design Engineer, and Matthew Moeller, Research Associate, in the Center for Technology Development at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI). Furthermore, the expertise and keen eyes of Michael Buckley and Laura Krisch, VTTI Editing Team, were an ever-present help during all reporting activities. Casey Gin provided important research assistance for the interview planning and initial data analysis. Finally, and most importantly, the authors wish to thank the participating industry experts and transit agency and union representatives from across North America who provided the ground-level knowledge of the procurement process and challenges and opportunities that stand before our transit industry. CRP STAFF FOR TCRP REPORT 185 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Program Dianne S. Schwager, Senior Program Officer Daniel J. Magnolia, Senior Program Assistant Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Sharon Lamberton, Editor TCRP PROJECT C-22 PANEL Engineering of Vehicles and Equipment Sue A. Stewart, King County Metro Transit, Redmond, WA (Retired; Chair) David B. Busch, Sustainesign, West Bloomfield, MI Jack Dennerlein, Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Boston, MA June M. Fisher, Trauma Foundation, San Francisco, CA Rufus Francis, Sacramento Regional Transit District, Sacramento, CA John P. Higgins, New York City Transit, Bronx, NY Jeanne Krieg, Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority, Antioch, CA Charles Mitchell, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Nashville, TN Brian L. Sherlock, Amalgamated Transit Union, Washington, DC Douglas A. Woodbury, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT Gregory Rymarz, FTA Liaison Jeff Hiott, APTA Liaison Ed Watt, Amalgamated Transit Union Liaison Bernardo Kleiner, TRB Liaison

TCRP Report 185: Bus Operator Workstation Design for Improving Occupational Health and Safety was developed to support improved bus procurement by public transit agencies, focusing on the bus operator workstation component of a bus. The project was designed to assist transit agencies and bus manufacturers in integrating improved and emerging technologies into current procurement practices and improving bus operator workstation design across the transit industry. The research produced practical guidance documents and tools applicable to the procurement process and bus design, including (1) a recommended procurement process and strategies for transit agencies to develop, train, and support a bus procurement team that includes bus operators and representatives from operations, maintenance, safety, and procurement; (2) training recommendations for the procurement team, including an ergonomics training module for bus operators; (3) guidelines to update the TCRP Report 25: Bus Operator Workstation Evaluation and Design Guidelines developed in 1997; and (4) a digital model of a bus operator workstation that can be used by designers and transit agencies to develop specifications. Transit agencies and bus manufacturers face the task of integrating improved and emerging technologies into current procurement practices while improving bus operator workstation design across the industry. Led by Virginia Tech and including RMGillespie Consulting and Sound Science, Inc., the research team for this ambitious project captured input from bus manufacturers, transit agencies, labor unions, and transit organization staff in the United States and Canada to develop strategies for improving collaboration in the bus design and procurement process. The final deliverables for this research include a report supplemented by six tools. The report provides an overview of the structure and content of the research, defines the role of each key stakeholder in the procurement process, and presents two types of training needed to support a well-prepared procurement team that includes bus operators trained in their ergonomic needs. The report also presents important computer-aided design (CAD) and human modeling simulation models, now integral to modern bus procurement. Six appendices present detailed research results that complement the research report. The report is supplemented by three organizational tools and three design guidance tools that can be used by transit agencies during bus procurement. The organizational tools support the improvement of the bus procurement process and training for participants. These tools can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different transit agencies. The design guidance tools support current bus design technology. In updating the bus operator workstation guide- lines, the research team sought to align the new tools, such as the Bus Operator Workstation Feature Guideline and the three-dimensional (3-D) Bus Operator Workstation Engineering F O R E W O R D By Dianne S. Schwager Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

CAD Model, with processes and practices now common in the commercial bus and truck industry. To assist in the communication of bus operator workstation requirements with individuals who are not trained in expensive and difficult CAD software, a Bus Operator Workstation 3-D PDF Model also was created. The six organizational and design guidance tools, including the 3-D PDF Model, can be accessed from the report webpage at www.trb.org by searching “TCRP Report 185”.

1 Summary 8 Chapter 1 Project Overview 8 Problem Statement 8 Project Objectives 9 Bus Operator Health and Safety Background 9 Workstation Design and Bus Operator Work Demands 10 Workstation Impacts on Bus Operator Health and Safety 10 Bus Operator Workstation Design: Literature Review 11 Bus Operator Participation in Bus Design Within Transit Agencies 11 Communicating Bus Operator Insight to Vehicle Manufacturers 12 Updated Bus Operator Workstation Design Guidelines 12 Overview of Previous Guidelines: TCRP Report 25 13 Current Approach 14 Report and Tools Roadmap 14 Chapter Guide 15 Tools 16 Chapter 2 Bus Workstation Design and Procurement Process to Protect Operator Health and Safety 16 Introduction 17 Improving Bus Operator Workstation Design and Procurement 18 Coordinating Industry-wide Action 19 Action Area A: Interface with Manufacturers and Suppliers 19 Action Area B: Cooperate Among Transit Agencies 19 Action Area C: Work with Transit Organizations 20 Action Area D: Partner with Researchers 20 Suggested Bus Procurement Team Process 20 Phase I: Build and Support the Procurement Team 23 Phase II: Prepare for Procurement 26 Phase III: Specification, Request for Proposals (RFP), and Award 27 Phase IV: Complete the Build and Roll-out 28 Design and Procurement Summary 30 Chapter 3 Training to Support the Procurement Team and Bus Operator Ergonomics 30 Introduction 31 Procurement Team Training 31 Training Area 1: Procurement 31 Training Area 2: Technical Skills and Knowledge 32 Training Area 3: Advanced Technical Skills and Knowledge 33 Procurement Team Training Summary C O N T E N T S

33 Bus Operator Training 34 Status of Bus Operator Ergonomics Training 34 Examples of Ergonomics Training for Bus Operators 35 Ergonomics Training for Bus Operators: A Template for Transit Agencies 35 Training Summary 37 Chapter 4 Development of Bus Operator Workstation Design Guidelines 37 Introduction 37 Review of Current Bus Operator Workstation Guidelines 38 TCRP Report 25 Guidelines 41 APTA Guidelines 42 EBSF Guidelines 42 ISO Guidelines 43 Capturing Industry Input to Procurement Guideline Development 43 Participants 43 Key Findings 44 Production Transit Bus Architecture 44 Bus Manufacturer Non-Disclosure Agreement and CAD Data 45 Transit Agency Site Visits 46 Updated Bus Operator Workstation Design Guideline Tools 46 Common SAE Class B Operator Packaging Parameters 47 Bus Operator Workstation Design Tools 47 Creating a Bus Operator Workstation Feature Guideline 47 Creating a Bus Operator Workstation Engineering CAD Model 53 Creating a Bus Operator Workstation 3-D PDF Model and User Guide 54 Guideline Development Summary 56 Chapter 5 Human Modeling Validation of Bus Operator Workstation Design Guidelines 56 Development of Multivariate Manikin Cadre from NIOSH Survey Models 58 Manikin Deviations from Models and Modifications 59 Verification of SAE Packaging RPs 59 Initial Posture Calculation and Constraints 59 Steering Wheel Position Optimization and Posture Recalculation 59 Evaluation of Packaging for Bus Operator Cadre 61 Demonstration of SAE Clearance Contours 62 Construction of Manikin Reach Curves 64 Human Modeling Validation Summary 65 Chapter 6 Conclusions 65 Bus Procurement Process, Industry Outreach 65 Integrating Bus Operators into the Procurement Process 66 Bus Procurement Team Training for Procurement Teams and for Bus Operators 67 Bus Operator Workstation Costs 67 Bus Operator Workstation Design Guidelines 68 Next Steps 70 References

74 Appendix A Bus Operator Considerations for Purchase Price 80 Appendix B Bus Operator Workstation Engineering CAD Model Specifications 104 Appendix C Construction of Multivariate Manikins in Human Modeling Software 110 Annex to Appendices