Rigid and Soft Back-Support Exoskeletons Affect Biomechanical and Perceptual Demands, but in Different Ways, During Simulated Shingle Installation

Details

• Journal Article:
  Applied Ergonomics
• Personal Author:
  Choi, Jiwon ; Kim, Sunwook ; Usmani, Ahmad Raza ; Barr, Alan ; Harris-Adamson, Carisa ; Nussbaum, Maury A.
• Description:
  Passive back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) are promising but underexplored interventions to reduce the high physical demands of roofing shingling. Eighteen participants performed simulations of shingle installation tasks under 12 different conditions. These conditions included all combinations of three BSE levels (Rigid, Soft, and no BSE), two task orientations (peak-facing vs. side-facing), and two roof slopes (18 degrees vs. 26 degrees). Using the rigid BSE significantly reduced lumbar muscle activation (11-17%) compared to no BSE, without altering trunk flexion. In contrast, the soft BSE reduced trunk flexion (approx. 4%) without altering lumbar muscle activation. Both BSEs reduced perceived low back exertion (approx. 16%); however, the rigid BSE increased leg discomfort (approx. 26%), and the soft BSE increased shoulder exertion (approx. 19%). Our results suggest that using BSEs can be beneficial for shingle installation tasks but also highlight the importance of considering device-specific biomechanical benefits and associated trade-offs to ensure effective application. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Construction Industry
  • Ergonomics
  • Exoskeletal Devices
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Exoskeletons; Ergonomics; Construction industry; Roofing; Biomechanics; Intervention effectiveness; Low back pain;
  • Author Keywords: Ergonomic intervention; Exoskeleton; Low back pain; Construction; Roofing
• Source:
  Appl Ergon 2026 Jul; 134:104744
• ISSN:
  0003-6870
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Maryland ; Philadelphia Region OSHA ; San Francisco Region OSHA ; Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  9 pdf pages
• Volume:
  134
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071665
• Contact Point Address:
  Maury A. Nussbaum, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Durham Hall (0118), 1185 Perry Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
• Email:
  nussbaum@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20240901
• End Date:
  20290831
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/259438/cdc_259438_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.72 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fd530de4f73a4e615ed93c63b65ce61c662c91adb627f06cc9590ebc727e1acfe148cfd00062f82670148ae3d0735894aafb2dd36e0a68e9c2f610de583d2194