ABSTRACT
One area in which workers can benefit from is good ergonomic design of construction equipment. Inviting leading construction equipment designers to discuss what allowances for human variability were being made in the design process. Any current attention to ergonomics in the development of construction equipment is restricted. This chapter investigates how the design of construction equipment is currently being carried out before one goes on to advise how to apply ergonomic principles to best effect. An investigation of its effect was then included in focus group work and as part of a questionnaire survey. The areas covered included culture, language, use of construction equipment, skills and training. Members of the group were asked about the relevance of worker/operator characteristics to the design of construction equipment and to give examples of what equipment would be affected.
