Design and Development of Bus Operator Seat as an Integral Part of the Bus Operator Workstation Redesign

The safe and efficient transportation of the public as well as the health and safety of their drivers demand that transit agencies provide a safe, comfortable driver workstation. It is widely accepted that the North American population in general has been getting not only larger, but also more diverse. This trend, along with the limitations most transit agencies have on screening and hiring drivers, is forcing transit agencies, bus OEM's, and seat suppliers to reevaluate their specifications. Using a 1998 Oregon OSHA (OR-OSHA) grant, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) funded the development of the next generation bus driver seat. After collecting population-specific anthropometric data, Tri-Met, working with USSC and Ergonomics Consulting, developed specific design criteria. Subsequent development and testing verified the specifications and performance of the seats.