The Ergonomic Evaluation of Truck Footsteps Using Biomechanical Analysis

초록

This study biomechanically evaluated truck ingress motion according to five offset combinations of the first andsecond footsteps. The experimental mock-up of the truck steps was developed so that their horizontal locationscould be changed to make five different offset combinations. The offset combinations of the first and secondsteps were composed of 1L2L (both steps left), 1L2R (first step left and second step right), 1R2L (first step rightand second step left), 1R2R (both steps right) and freestyle. The activity of fourteen muscles of both arms, thejoint angle of the whole body, and the joint moment of the lower body were measured while eighteen subjectsentered a truck cabin with the five offset combinations of the steps. The result showed that the lowest physicalload was the 1L2R combination and the left and right spacing between two steps were at least 30mm. The resultsof this study can be used as a guideline for truck footstep design that minimizes the driver’s physical load andmay be helpful for safety and convenience for truck ingress.

키워드