Exploratory Field Testing of Passive Exoskeletons in Several Manufacturing Environments: Perceived Usability and User Acceptance.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSResults of the current exploratory study suggest that use of an exoskeleton (EXO) has the potential to be accepted by workers as an intervention in diverse manufacturing environments. Also evident were that the major factors contributing to EXO-use-intention are perceived comfort, task-technology fit, perceived safety, and perceived usefulness. A user's perception of perceived usability may be established by using an exoskeleton during actual job tasks, yet some aspects of perceived usability likely require multiple exposures to an EXO for an accurate assessment. Many negative comments regarding EXO use were related to physical constraints (e.g., restricted movements, bulkiness), and to the EXO interface (e.g., straps, cuff designs), suggesting a need for further research on EXO design to minimize discomfort. In practice, there is likely value in having workers use and explore candidate EXOs during their actual job, both to accurately assess the usefulness of an EXO and to find the most effective EXO.

Background There lacks an understanding of using an exoskeleton (EXO) in diverse manufacturing environments.Purpose Goals of this study were to: (1) gather worker feedback on different EXOs after using them during their actual jobs; (2) understand what contributes to EXO-use-intention in manufacturing companies; and (3) develop a decision tree model to explore which task characteristics and user perceptions might aid in determining how to implement an EXO effectively.Methods A field study was completed in five manufacturing companies in the state of Ohio. Fifteen participants used preferred EXOs selected from among two arm-support and two back-support devices during their regular jobs for ≤30 minutes in each of two separate sessions. After using an EXO, participants completed a questionnaire addressing several aspects of usability, comfort, safety, and EXO-use-intention. Open-ended comments on these aspects were coded into emerging themes. A decision tree analysis was performed on participants' responses to the EXO-use-intention question to explore the predictive value of task characteristics, user characteristics, and questionnaire responses.Results Responses to usability-related questions were rather consistent between the two sessions, yet some responses were more positive in the 2nd session (perceived balance, overall comfort and fit, and range-of-motion). We identified four themes regarding EXO use­utility for work, wearability, working metrics, and ease of using; and negative comments on these themes were largely related to physical constraints from wearing an EXO, and EXO interface. The decision tree analysis suggested that perceived comfort, task-technology fit, perceived safety, and perceived usefulness are each associated with EXO-use-intention.Conclusions EXO use has the potential to be accepted by workers as an intervention in manufacturing environments. However, further work is needed for enhanced comfort, EXO-task fit, user acceptance, and to develop EXO introduction processes to create best practices for effective implementation and sustainable use of EXOs in practice.

Millennial preferences in training messages: The role of teamwork and corporate social responsibility.

BACKGROUND: As the last of the millennial generation is graduating and entering the work force, it has become imperative to devise new ways of engaging this group in safety initiatives. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to investigate if messages aligned with particular identified millennial workplace culture preferences (i.e. teamwork and CSR) can more effectively engage millennial workers. METHODS: Thirty participants completed surveys to determine their predisposed attitudes of teamwork and CSR. They then viewed three versions of a safety presentation each addressing the same topic and information, but each with a different theme behind their safety message (i.e. control, teamwork, and CSR). RESULTS: The pooled teamwork and CSR data showed that these messages were favored in larger proportion than the control message. No statistically significant differences were found between the three messages when analyzed individually. CONCLUSIONS: ANOVA analyses showed a significant difference between the control presentation data and the pooled teamwork and CSR presentation data indicating that millennials prefer safety messages aligned with teamwork and social responsibility to a safety message with no extrinsic motivational theme.

Prioritizing ergonomic research in aging for the 21st century American workforce.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2008 Americans aged 55 and over will represent the greatest annual growth rate and will occupy 30% of the American population. Additionally, by 2008 civilian labor force participation rates for the 55 and older group will grow to 36.8%, a 6.5% increase over the participation rates for this group for 1996, with the 55 to 64 age group expected to add 7.3 million workers. The predicted median age of the labor force for 2008 is estimated at 40.7 years, an age not approached because the median age peaked at 40.5 years in 1962. Coupled with this aging profile, employment in professional specialty occupations will increase the fastest and add the most jobs in the decade leading to 2008. Within the professional specialty professions, the majority of the employment increases are expected to occur in the service industry division. The purpose of this paper is to merge demographic data with ergonomic and human factors data and predictions to explore areas of ergonomic research that will aid in keeping the aging workforce, and those with whom they interact, healthy in their jobs and keep the companies for whom they are employed competitive. Although some ergonomics research has been conducted in all the listed areas of expected growth, the paper reexamines the job demands in each sector, with a focus on the needs of the aging workforce.