§187 制御装置の配置

The second indent of section 1.2.2 requires manufacturers to take account of ergonomic principles when positioning control devices on the machinery, to ensure that the devices are clearly visible to operators and that they can be reached and used efficiently and safely, without the need to adopt awkward postures.

The positioning of the control devices must take account of the tasks to be carried out by the operators and of the corresponding operating modes, of the position and characteristics of work stations or operating positions, of whether operators are likely to be standing or seated and of the need for operators to observe certain parts of the machinery while using the control devices.

The layout of control devices should also take account of the position of the parts of the machinery affected by its use, following commonly accepted conventions. For example, a device controlling parts of the machinery to the right of the operator should be positioned on the right of the operating position; a device controlling an upward movement should be positioned above a button controlling a downward movement and so on.

Where control devices have to be operated in a given sequence, they should be arranged in that sequence. Devices controlling related functions should be grouped together and devices controlling unrelated functions should be clearly separated.

The control devices that are likely to be used most frequently or that need to be used continuously should be positioned within the central area of the operator's field of vision and within the immediate reach envelope where they can be reached without bending. Where necessary, this may require the provision of means of adjusting the position of the control devices to accommodate the variation of the body dimensions of operators.