Abstract
A field study was conducted in which the control arrangements of four major backhoe models were investigated. The existing designs are compared to design recommendations presented in the literature to assess their compatibility. The issue of standardization of operator controls on an industry-wide basis is addressed on the premise that safety would be improved and training times reduced if a standard arrangement were implemented. Critical incident interviews were collected in an effort to verify the hypothesis that safety problems are associated with inadequate control design and lack of standards. Recommendations for mechanical and procedural changes that may enhance production as well as safety are included.
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