Biomedical subjects

D J Bottoms

Publications and source records attributed to D J Bottoms.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Foot reach under guard rails on agricultural machinery.

Foot and leg injuries of workers using agricultural field machines frequently occur when contact is made with rotating components. This paper presents the results of a study carried out to determine how far people can reach under barriers. The results show that even at a low barrier height of 200 mm above the ground some short people can get their lower leg well under the barrier and reach considerable distances. Guarding of machines to minimise leg and foot injuries is therefore likely to be a compromise between desirable standards and practical considerations.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1983

Design guidelines for operator entry-exit systems on mobile equipment.

The space available on mobile equipment for an operator's workplace is often restricted and can cause design conflicts. Easy entry and exit is important for safety, productivity and comfort. The paper presents guidelines for the design of entry-exit systems. The recommendations are based mainly on the results of an extensive series of laboratory experiments. These were conducted to establish generally acceptable standards rather than the optimum arrangements more frequently presented in the literature. The need to consider the whole access system is emphasised because of the interactions between the size and location of steps, handholds, doors and workplace arrangement. Some experimental assessment of access systems for new designs is recommended.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1978

A swivelling seat to improve tractor drivers' posture.

Most agricultural equipment works behind the tractor, requiring the driver to spend a large proportion of his time looking backwards and adopting a poor posture. An evaluation was made of a mechanism that allowed a tractor seat to swivel up to 20 degrees from the normal forward facing position. Electromyographic techniques were used to monitor muscle activity during static laboratory experiments and angles of body twist were measured from photographic records in a separate study. The results showed a decrease in muscle activity in the shoulder and neck regions when the seat was swivelled up to 20 degrees. Measured angles of body twist showed that the potential benefit of swivelling the seat was not fully utilised by subjects although the mean twist between the shoulders and hips reduced significantly with increasing swivel angle. A subjective evaluation at three farms over a period of 6-12 months confirmed that a swivelling seat was of benefit to the driver, particularly for tasks requiring mainly rearward visual monitoring.

Journal Article↗