Human Factors and Ergonomics

05/22/2024: Using Wearable Devices & Deep Learning to Recognize Physical Activities at Work

About the webinar:

Accurately quantifying and evaluating occupational physical activities (OPAs) performed by workers is vital for various purposes, including job descriptions, pre-placement/post-hire employee screening, ergonomic evaluations, and facilitating return-to-work processes. Certain OPAs, such as lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying, are categorized as manual material handling activities, which are known to be associated with an increased risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly lower back pain. This presentation will explore the utilization of...

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04/17/2024: Occupational Ergonomic Research in Pacific Northwest

About the webinar:

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) account for 30 - 45% of all occupational injuries in the United States. Workforce demographics are rapidly changing, creating substantial challenges in occupational safety and health and requiring innovative strategies to reduce WMSDs. This presentation will explore the significance of occupational and ergonomics biomechanics research, important challenges we are facing, and the current research programs at Oregon State University’s Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics Lab designed to fill these gaps.

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03/20/2024: Patient Handling Hazards and Prevention

About the webinar:

Manual patient handling tasks such as repositioning in bed, bed to chair transfers, and mobility assistance generate profound ergonomic stressors on healthcare workers, resulting in uniquely high rates of musculoskeletal injuries. Although effective equipment is available to prevent manual patient handling, it often goes unused. Join Dr. Kiydal to discuss how safe patient handling and mobility programs are systems-based solutions that can mitigate musculoskeletal risk when implemented comprehensively.

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02/21/2024: Evaluating Firefighters’ Hyperthermia Level with a CNT Based Cooling System During Live Burn Firefighting

About the webinar:

Our research team at the University of Cincinnati has developed an Active Textile (AT) system integrated into Firefighter Turnout Gear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This AT coat has coolants embedded inside carbon nanotube (CNT)-based fabric which minimizes increase in core body temperature.

Click here to learn more about the Early Detection of Degenerative Disorders & Innovative Soluations Lab (EDDI Lab).

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A design tool to estimate maximum acceptable manual arm forces for above-shoulder work

David M. Rempel

Dr. Jim Potvin, PhD, CCPE

2022

There is a need for design criteria for above-shoulder work to prevent shoulder fatigue and supraspinatus injuries. A tool is developed to estimate maximum acceptable manual arm forces for above-shoulder work based on 25th % female strength with adjustments for supraspinatus tendon impingement and shoulder fatigue. The tool equations are presented along with tables of maximum acceptable manual arm forces in 77 locations in the 3 D space above the shoulder that accommodates a 50th % female reach. The largest acceptable anterior force, 140.3 N, occurs at shoulder height, 0.5 m anterior...