Ergonomics for Selecting Fleet and Service Vehicles

When your workplace is a vehicle, ergonomics matter most. Humantech Management Consultant Kent Hatcher says a vehicle should accommodate anyone from a 4-foot-11 female to a 6-foot-6 male. This requires adjustable features and designing for extremes. The analysis of a vehicle should focus on manual material handling, such as loading service height and depth, and the force and reach required to close the trunk. To effectively retrofit vehicles, Humantech Management Consultant Deepesh Desai suggests assessing the risks already present and developing viable and cost effective solutions to create a business case for implementing them across all vehicles. A company should then establish a loss prevention plan and goals. From there, it can prioritize ergonomic issues through risk assessments, develop short-term and long-term improvement plans and then implement those improvements. Read more recommendations here.