Ergonomic evaluation of brake pedal and push handle locations on hospital beds

Transporting patients in hospital beds is a physically demanding activity performed by healthcare workers and bed design may moderate the risk of injury. Nine healthcare workers participated in a study to investigate how brake pedal location affected maximal voluntary exertion (MVE) force and the level of acceptable force for engagement. Preferred and acceptable push heights when maneuvering a bed were also evaluated. The method of limits was used to determine acceptable forces and push heights. Results demonstrated that pedal depth, clearance above, and clearance behind the pedal significantly affected MVE force and acceptable force. Preferred push height was approximately at elbow level and a single height would not accommodate the user population. These findings provide important considerations for hospital bed design. The method of limits was a valid and reliable approach for evaluating user acceptance of design inputs characterized by continuous variables and may be useful in other design evaluations.