O-403 Assessing the Safety and Effectiveness Problems of New Type Personal Protective Equipment Use for the Musculoskeletal System

Introduction Despite a significant increase in industrial automation, occupational morbidity associated with exposure to physical overload still occupies one of the first places in the structure of occupational medicine. For this, the development of technologies for industrial exoskeletons, a new means of individual protection of the musculoskeletal system, is promising. But in the absence of regulatory documentation, the issue of safety and effectiveness of their use remains open. Methods The Institute has conducted more than 10 studies on the safety and effectiveness of exoskeletons “ExoAtlant”, “Keeepy”, “Hoooldy”, “X-Rise”, “X-soft” “ProEXOLight” use on volunteers. The following were assessed: range of motion, blood pressure, heart rate, gas exchange, energy expenditure, bioelectrical activity, muscle tone and stiffness, general condition of volunteers, subjective information of volunteers about discomfort and efficiency. Results The analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in the values of indicators when using some exoskeletons. The use of some models of exoskeletons restricts movement in the joints. Despite the additional weight of human-wearable exoskeletons, their use does not adversely affect the state of the cardiorespiratory system and, in some cases, reduces energy consumption by up to 35%. The use of exoskeletons reduces the load on the muscles involved, their tone and stiffness, in some cases, the redistribution of the load on other muscle groups is determined. Conclusion The conclusion about the exoskeleton safety and efficiency for a particular workplace should be formed separately, based on the working conditions specifics. The research results will form the basis of the state standard “Industrial exoskeletons. Protection degree determining methods”.