Human Factors and Ergonomics

Many ergonomic evaluation and risk assessment tools have been around for decades, and were designed to evaluate single or mono-task work. In practice, there are few single-task jobs. Most work is multi-task, exposing the worker to ergonomic risk factors of different levels (i.e., forces of different magnitude, postures of different severity, etc.). This presentation will review a timeline of the evolution of ergonomic assessment tools, and describe how tools are rapidly transitioning from single-task to multi-task models. Newer multi-task models such...

Structural firefighters are exposed to many environmental stressors while still expected to make critical decisions on the job. Firefighters are exposed to high temperatures, perform physically demanding tasks, and wear heavy PPE, which all contribute to an increased internal body temperature. Firefighters also work extended shifts, typically as long as 24 hours, where their sleep may be interrupted to deal with emergencies. Fatigue generated from a combination of heat stress, performing physically demanding tasks, and partial sleep deprivation has...

Construction workers continue to experience high rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), with the back and shoulder being the most impacted body regions. Exoskeletons are wearable devices that support the physical capacity of the wearer and offer a promising and innovative approach to reduce WMSD risks, expand accessibility to construction jobs, and enhance performance. This webinar will explore survey data collected from stakeholders in construction on the perceived benefits, barriers, and facilitators of adoption.

Endoscopists have a high incidence and severity of musculoskeletal pain and injury relative to other medical specialists. This lecture will review recent research regarding the quantification of physical exposures while performing colonoscopies and present an evaluation of a new device designed to mitigate such exposures.