Controlling safety and health challenges intrinsic in exoskeleton use in construction

Abstract

Construction practitioners have started exploring the use of exoskeletons within operations to combat the high rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, declining productivity, and worker attrition. In attempting to adopt exoskeletons, the ensuing human-robot interaction (HRI) can lead to the emergence of novel safety risks or the increment of existing safety risks as a result of hazards peculiar to the task-technology execution. These risks, if ignored, can worsen construction worker safety performance. This paper presents research aimed at developing insights needed to control safety risks associated with exoskeleton (wearable robot) use across three construction tasks – bricklaying, drywall installation, and concrete grinding and polishing. To achieve this aim, the Delphi method, which relied on inferential and descriptive statistics such as mean analysis and consensus evaluation, was employed to (1) quantify wearable robot safety risks for selected construction tasks, and (2) identify effective and feasible safety risk mitigation strategies using the study results. Findings from the present study include 10 critical safety and health risks associated with exoskeletons and 12 key safety risk mitigation strategies. This research contributes to knowledge by characterizing the safety risks and mitigation strategies associated with HRI and providing valuable insights that could be used by researchers to advance construction worker safety and health research. Through increased awareness of HRI safety risk and mitigation strategies, practitioners can prioritize safety resources and improve worker safety and productivity.