Researcher: Marie Bellemare (U. Laval)

Montréal's subway operators have been complaining for a long time about cramped driving cabs and uncomfortable seats, and the data already collected suggest that ergonomic constraints and vibration could constitute risks to their health. This problem should be better defined given the relatively long-term projects for subway expansion, the aging of existing cars, and the employer's intentions to reorganize the driving cabs that will remain in service. By describing the population of operators and conducting ergonomic analyses of their work, this exploratory study will establish indicators to guide the designers of a future driving cab and to change existing driving cabs. This knowledge will help to take better account of the drivers' characteristics, their work requirements and their vibratory environment. This activity, carried out in response to a joint request from the employer and the union, is a prerequisite to the development of a new approach to driving-cab design, which will be the subject of further research.