The Ergonomics Open Journal

2009, 2 : 13-16
Published online 2009 January 15. DOI: 10.2174/1875934300902010013
Publisher ID: TOERGJ-2-13

Foot Controls: Riding the Pedal

Ralph L. Barnett
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, and Chairman of the Board, Triodyne Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA.

ABSTRACT

The two predominant scenarios for accidentally tripping a foot control are stepping into the foot control and onto the pedal, i.e., “stepping contact;” and keeping one foot on or just above the pedal at all times, i.e., “riding the pedal.” This study shows that the various designs used to minimize “stepping contact” exacerbate inadvertent activation by “riding the pedal.”

Keywords:

Anthropometrics, office chair, Hong Kong.