@article{ref1, title="Police officer in-vehicle discomfort: appointments carriage method and vehicle seat features", journal="Applied ergonomics", year="2014", author="Filtness, A. J. and Mitsopoulos-Rubens, E. and Rudin-Brown, Christina M.", volume="45", number="4", pages="1247-1256", abstract="Musculoskeletal pain is commonly reported by police officers. A potential cause of officer discomfort is a mismatch between vehicle seats and the method used for carrying appointments. Twenty-five police officers rated their discomfort while seated in: (1) a standard police vehicle seat, and (2) a vehicle seat custom-designed for police use. Discomfort was recorded in both seats while wearing police appointments on: (1) a traditional appointments belt, and (2) a load-bearing vest/belt combination (LBV). Sitting in the standard vehicle seat and carrying appointments on a traditional appointments belt were both associated with significantly elevated discomfort. Four vehicle seat features were most implicated as contributing to discomfort: back rest bolster prominence; lumbar region support; seat cushion width; and seat cushion bolster depth. Authorising the carriage of appointments using a LBV is a lower cost solution with potential to reduce officer discomfort. Furthermore, the introduction of custom-designed vehicle seats should be considered.

Language: en

", language="en", issn="0003-6870", doi="10.1016/j.apergo.2014.03.002", url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2014.03.002" }