International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Based on current stress situations in the repair section of a big German truck and bus company procedures for force measuring have been developed, methods for risk assessment are selected and applied and proposals for improvement of the work performance are discussed. In addition to the technical component of the force measurement with a specially designed device and the organizational component in a project with representatives of various disciplines the specific differences between service and production are to be respected. Most of the approved assessment tools like COBRA, KIM (LMM) or EAWS for physical work situations with critical body and spine loads can just be applied with restrictions. By use of a special documentation systematic the results of risk analysis of selected activities are evaluated and solutions developed according to the TOP principle with respect to economical, technical and organisational feasibility. Effort and practical acceptance of the project are mainly determined by the multidisciplinary staffed working group.

In view of the high risen demands on the machine operator to a safe and high efficient guidance the best possible "workplace situations" must be available. Beside assisted vehicle operation and ergonomically optimized machine interaction particular importance must be attended to individual adjustments as well as climate management. Though for a good climate in the cabin the newest technologies are applied, still the perceived comfort can become disagreeable in spite of air-conditioning. On longer terms the heat as well as the humidity produced by the driver accumulate in the seat and lead to negative sensations, concentration interferences, tiredness and consequently performance losses. Thus the operator’s seat sets a great challenge for agricultural and forestral automotive vehicles already in the matter of ergonomics and safety, concerning hygro-thermal functions however it is probably one of the most complicated development topic. Apart from general interactions between climate situations and best human work performance, assessment and measuring aspects for climate and comfort as well as constructional details for optimized heat and sweat management on drivers’s seats have to be respected.