ISO 10968:2020

Overview

ISO 10968:2020 - "Earth‑moving machinery - Operator's controls" defines ergonomic, safety and layout requirements for operator controls on direct‑control earth‑moving machines (as defined in ISO 6165). This third edition (2020) was reorganized to cover base machines, equipment and attachments separately and to account for both legacy machines and state‑of‑the‑art control solutions. It is not applicable to remote operator control (see ISO 15817).

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clear definitions for control types (primary vs secondary), levers, pedals, multifunction controls, proportional control and machine response.
• Control locations: Primary controls must be within the minimum operator space envelope (ISO 3411) and follow ergonomic layout guidelines.
• Distance and spacing:
  • Finger‑operated controls: 23 mm between centres (18 mm if a divider); touchscreen keys/buttons 14 mm centre‑to‑centre.
  • Hand‑operated controls: 40 mm clearance between adjacent controls.
  • Foot‑operated controls:
    • Not intended to be used simultaneously: 50 mm clearance for separate feet/different heel positions; 30 mm for same‑foot, same‑heel position (non‑parallel if 30 mm).
    • Intended to be used simultaneously: maximum 30 mm clearance for same‑foot, same‑heel operation (example: scraper throttle).
• Movement and multifunction controls: Guidance on basic movements for single, two‑axis and four‑axis multifunction levers and on machine responses during control change‑over.
• Control actuating forces: Minimum/normal force values were removed; manufacturers are responsible for ensuring actuating forces prevent inadvertent activation under vibration, acceleration and normal machine operation.
• Protection and robustness: Measures against unintended movement or damage by external forces are required.
• Annexes: Normative annexes address base machine, equipment and attachments; informative annexes cover graders and dozers with machine‑specific guidance.

Applications and who uses it

ISO 10968:2020 is used by:

• Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) designing cabs, joysticks, pedals and control consoles
• Design and ergonomics engineers optimizing operator interfaces
• Safety engineers and compliance officers preparing conformity documentation
• Test laboratories, certification bodies and regulators evaluating machine safety and human factors
• Fleet managers and specifiers selecting machines with appropriate control ergonomics

Practical applications include cab layout design, lever/button spacing, pedal arrangement, ergonomic assessments, and documenting machine control behaviour for operator training.

Related standards

• ISO 6165 - Machine classification (referenced in scope)
• ISO 3411 - Operator space envelope (normative reference)
• ISO 15817 - Remote operator control
• ISO 6405‑1/2 - Control symbols
• ISO 3450, ISO 10265, ISO 17063 - Braking and performance requirements

Keywords: ISO 10968:2020, earth‑moving machinery, operator's controls, ergonomics, control spacing, multifunction levers, pedal layout, operator safety.