Evaluating the Impact of Powered Back-Support Exoskeletons and Virtual Reality Interventions on Gait Stability of Construction Workers at Heights

Abstract

Due to the labor-intensive nature of construction tasks, workers are exposed to an increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Recently, a wide range of wearable robots (i.e., exoskeletons) has emerged in construction to reduce the risk of WMSDs. Although there are promising prospects for wearable robots to minimize the physical demands on workers, there is limited knowledge about their fundamental impacts on workers. In particular, there is a lack of studies on the impact of wearable robots on workers’ gait stability in dangerous situations, such as heights, which puts workers at high risk. To fill this gap, this study evaluated the impact of powered back-support exoskeletons on workers’ gait stability at heights through kinematic analysis. The analysis revealed that working at height with a back-support exoskeleton does not diminish users’ gait stability. The findings can shed light on the widespread adoption of back-support exoskeletons in construction.