Understanding the Drivers of and Barriers to Adopting Passive Back-and Arm-Support Exoskeletons in Construction: Results from Interviews and Short-Term Field Testing

Details

• Journal Article:
  International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
• Personal Author:
  Ashtiani, Mohamad Behjati ; Morris, Wallace ; Ojelade, Aanuoluwapo ; Kim, Sunwook ; Akinwande, Feyisayo ; Barr, Alan ; Harris-Adamson, Carisa ; Akanmu, Abiola ; Nussbaum, Maury A.
• Description:
  Construction workers experience high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), particularly affecting the back and shoulders. Exoskeletons (EXOs), including arm-support (ASEs) and back-support (BSEs) devices, have clear potential as ergonomic interventions for reducing WMSD risks, yet the specific benefits and limitations in the construction industry remain largely unclear. We aimed to identify drivers and barriers to adopting EXOs in construction, which was done using a two-phase approach: an interview study involving 24 construction stakeholders, followed by a field study with 22 construction workers. Participants in the interview study had hands-on experiences with diverse EXOs, then provided feedback on initial impressions, perceived barriers, and potential benefits of EXO use. Interview recordings were analyzed for sentiment, systematically categorizing responses as positive, neutral, and negative. During the field study, workers wore EXOs while performing their job tasks for up to 1 h, then completed structured exit surveys that assessed usability, comfort, safety, and overall satisfaction. We found a generally positive view of EXO technology in construction, with stakeholders open to adoption for enhancing productivity and reducing physical demands. However, usability, safety, and social acceptance concerns indicated a need for design improvements focused on comfort and compatibility. Notably, safety concerns expressed by interviewees contrasted with positive field study responses, suggesting that the input obtained can vary between assessment conditions. Future research should include longitudinal studies to track shifts in perception and assess diverse designs. These findings highlight the need for refined EXOs to meet construction demands and support broader industry adoption. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Construction
  • Exoskeleton Device
  • Ergonomics
  • Musculoskeletal System
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Construction workers
  • Exoskeletons
  • Ergonomics
  • Musculoskeletal disorders
  • MSD
  • Intervention effectiveness
  • Emerging technology
  • Qualitative analysis
  • Safety
  • Author Keywords: Exoskeletons
  More +
• ISSN:
  0169-8141
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Maryland ; New York ; New York City Region OSHA ; 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:
  10 pdf pages
• Volume:
  107
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071850
• Citation:
  Int J Ind Ergon 2025 May; 107:103732
• Contact Point Address:
  Maury A. Nussbaum, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
• Email:
  nussbaum@vt.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  2009/09/01
• End Date:
  2024/08/31
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/260072/cdc_260072_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.34 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fa1d5ceba38fa7a2a07f7b75c08a954b7686a45b178ce72f5113a2a0c48d09b7064e725504a1f1f9bd56d12de8dcbabaffa49cb797d0bfd3572c59841b235575