Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Alberta
$99,333.00
A framework for assessment of impact of exoskeletons on safety and performance of construction workers
EF 2022-23
Résumé
Labour is one of the most crucial and flexible resources in Canadian industry sectors such as construction and maintenance. Labour operations in construction involve physically demanding motions and tasks and awkward postures that can lead to significant risks of musculoskeletal injuries. Such injuries not only impact the quality of life of the workers but also impose substantial costs on employers. The annual impact of work-related musculoskeletal injuries on the Canadian economy is estimated to be $20 billion. Therefore, the development of strategies to reduce the risk factors such as loads exerted on the worker's body can significantly benefit the Canadian construction industry. One of the emerging technologies aiming to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries is the exoskeleton, a wearable robot that supports the user's body by reducing physical demands from the body. However, most available exoskeletons have limitation for their long-term use in versatile and dynamic industry sectors, and there is a lack of exoskeletons designed, evaluated, and implemented for most tasks in several industry sectors such as construction and maintenance. This project aims to develop a novel systematic process for adopting and implementing exoskeletons on a task-specific basis to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in the Canadian construction and utility maintenance industry. Together with our industry partners, we will characterize the usability and effectiveness of exoskeletons in injury prevention through biomechanical and ergonomic analysis and in-lab and in-field experimental evaluation. Then, we will recommend the specification of industrial exoskeletons to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries for high-risk tasks construction and utility maintenance industry.This project will reduce the economic burden on the Canadian construction industry and healthcare system, provide new market opportunities for Canadian industry in the field of biomechatronics and ergonomic assessments, and train further experts to promote the health and safety of workers.
Programme
Alliance Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Alberta, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
567348-2021
Name nom
Rouhani, Hossein H
Department département
Mechanical Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2022
Competition year année de concours
2021
Award amount
99333
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
1101
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Human health (including medically-related psychological research)
Area of application fr
Santé publique (y compris recherche psychologique liée à la médecine)
Research subject code
2606
Research subject group en
Robotics
Research subject group fr
Robotique
Research subject en
Systems, man and cybernetics
Research subject fr
Systèmes, homme et cybernétique
Installment
inst:2
Partie
1
Nb partie
2
Application title
A framework for assessment of impact of exoskeletons on safety and performance of construction workers
Application summary
Labour is one of the most crucial and flexible resources in Canadian industry sectors such as construction and maintenance. Labour operations in construction involve physically demanding motions and tasks and awkward postures that can lead to significant risks of musculoskeletal injuries. Such injuries not only impact the quality of life of the workers but also impose substantial costs on employers. The annual impact of work-related musculoskeletal injuries on the Canadian economy is estimated to be $20 billion. Therefore, the development of strategies to reduce the risk factors such as loads exerted on the worker's body can significantly benefit the Canadian construction industry. One of the emerging technologies aiming to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries is the exoskeleton, a wearable robot that supports the user's body by reducing physical demands from the body. However, most available exoskeletons have limitation for their long-term use in versatile and dynamic industry sectors, and there is a lack of exoskeletons designed, evaluated, and implemented for most tasks in several industry sectors such as construction and maintenance. This project aims to develop a novel systematic process for adopting and implementing exoskeletons on a task-specific basis to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in the Canadian construction and utility maintenance industry. Together with our industry partners, we will characterize the usability and effectiveness of exoskeletons in injury prevention through biomechanical and ergonomic analysis and in-lab and in-field experimental evaluation. Then, we will recommend the specification of industrial exoskeletons to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal injuries for high-risk tasks construction and utility maintenance industry.This project will reduce the economic burden on the Canadian construction industry and healthcare system, provide new market opportunities for Canadian industry in the field of biomechatronics and ergonomic assessments, and train further experts to promote the health and safety of workers.
