Assessing the Effectiveness of Exoskeletons in Reducing Musculoskeletal Risk in Construction: A Pilot Study

The manual handling involved in construction work can put workers at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and other health issues related to hand and arm movements. While some studies have investigated the potential impact of new technologies like exoskeletons on MSDs, they have not specifically looked at their impact on the amount of movement and effort required to perform a task [known as hand activity level (HAL)]. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has developed a framework for assessing HAL and determining a safe level for a task, known as the threshold limit value (TLV). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an exoskeleton in reducing MSD risk in construction using the HAL-TLV framework. Ten participants participated in a simulated drilling task while wearing the exoskeleton, and the results indicated that it is possible to quantify the MSD risk reduction capability of an exoskeleton. This study helps us appreciate how the risk assessment tool works in construction. Practitioners and researchers can determine the true cost-benefit of using an exoskeleton as a safety intervention using the risk outcome from the risk assessment.