An ergonomics study on compatibility of controls of overhead cranes in a heavy engineering factory in West Bengal

Ergonomics studies, on the machine control and the resultant movements of the cabins and the hooks in 51 electric overhead travelling cranes in a heavy engineering factory, showed that control-movement compatibility is absent in most of the cranes. Also, the layout of the groups of controls and the orientations of each of the individual controls with respect to the operators' seats varied from one crane to another. As the operators were shifted from one crane to another every week, there was a high chance of making mistakes during moving the controls, which might have resulted in severe accidents, especially during periods of high workload. A number of low-cost ergonomics solutions have been recommended to minimize these problems.