Framework for Quantifying the Impact of Exoskeleton on Musculoskeletal Disorder Risk Reduction

Construction is a labor-intensive industry requiring extensive manual handling, repeated hand motion, and exerting force. These attributes put workers at risk for Distal Upper Extremity Disorders (DUED), such as occupational wrist tendinosis, trigger finger, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Although some studies have assessed the potential impact of exoskeletons on muscle activation, these studies failed to evaluate the direct effect of exoskeletons on DUED. Therefore, the present study aims to characterize the process for directly assessing the impact of exoskeleton on DUED and evaluate the efficacy of an exoskeleton in reducing the occurrence of DUED. Relying on the Hand Activity Level Threshold Limit Value process developed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the researchers developed a framework for assessing the DUED risk associated with hand-related tasks. This study presents a framework for conducting ergonomic risk assessments and the use of intervention in the construction industry. In addition, the study provides critical insight into using a DUED-based risk assessment tool for exoskeleton evaluation research. Practitioners and researchers can determine the true cost-benefit of using an exoskeleton as a safety intervention using the risk outcome from the proposed risk assessment process.