Assessing the Effects of Exoskeletons on Physical Demands, Trip and Slip Risks, and User Perceptions in Manual Mining Tasks

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major health concern worldwide in the mining sector and are associated with frequent exposure to risk factors prevalent in manual mining tasks. Occupational exoskeletons (EXOs) are a promising ergonomic intervention to mitigate WMSD risk, by reducing physical demands and improving work performance. The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the potential benefits of using EXOs for addressing health and safety challenges encountered by miners, while also examining the limitations associated with EXO use, as a means of providing new evidence to guide the effective selection and application of passive arm-support exoskeletons (ASEs) and back-support exoskeletons (BSEs), help avoid unintended/preventable side effects resulting from this technology, and aid in maximizing the benefits of EXO use in mining. The first study identified and assessed the opportunities for and feasibility of implementing EXOs in mining, through an online survey with industry stakeholders. Miners reported potential benefits of EXOs for lifting and overhead work and shared concerns about EXO use. They also emphasize the need to ensure task compatibility, comfort, and affordability to ensure safe and effective adoption in mining. The second study quantified the potential benefits and risks of using ASEs and BSEs for diverse manual mining tasks using controlled lab-based simulations. Both ASE and BSE effects were device- and task-specific. BSEs significantly reduced peak trunk extensor activity during lifting and overhead installation tasks, although perceptions of exertion and discomfort differed by device: soft BSE reduced perceived upper-back exertion, whereas rigid BSE increased waist/hip discomfort. ASEs also differed in their effects on total shoulder muscle activity across tasks, but their use reduced perceived exertion across most body regions with minimal reported discomfort. The third study assessed the effects of BSEs on trip and slip risks during load carriage on different surface slopes. Using both BSEs differentially altered minimum foot clearance (MFC) and required coefficient of friction (RCoF). Rigid BSEs increased right foot MFC and RCoF, whereas the soft BSE largely preserved baseline gait mechanics, with no significant effects on objective slip or trip risk metrics. Overall, we found that the efficacy of ASEs and BSEs are highly device- and task-dependent. These results provide critical insights to inform evidence-based guidelines for the safe implementation of occupational EXOs in mining and other physically demanding industries.