Assessing Ergonomic-Deviations in the Existing Configurations of Controls and Display Units in Locomotives of Indian Railways

Abstract

Abstract Train driving is a complex task, requires prompt decision making based on external and internal information received. Therefore, spatial arrangement of control and display units and their labelling play vital roles to facilitate safe driving. This study was initiated on WAG7 (Old Variant modeled) goods locomotives. The Indian Railways having a very good number of fleets of such locos to take up this research. The ambience within the workstation and arrangement of controls were recorded video-graphically for subsequent analysis. In addition to many other elements of job or tasks, loco pilots remain engaged to operate few controls by reading various operational parameters on different display units. Within the fleet, deviations in placement of the display units, indicating lack of standard practices, had been noticed. Visibility of such units was found inadequate. Labelling of instruments, appeared to have been done un-attentively/ lackadaisically, bearing the signature of untrained hands. Investigation revealed that controls and display units were not configured ergonomically; therefore, proper location, size selection and labelling of such instruments are suggested to be standardized for their easy identification and error-free reading. Discussion with workers revealed that the importance of labelling and coding system is not clear to those who maintain the locomotives in sheds/workshops.