Choosing the Right Exoskeleton: A Guide for Safety Professionals

Exoskeletons and exosuits, or exos for short, are revolutionizing the workplace. No longer relegated to science fiction or clunky lab prototypes, modern occupational exoskeleton designs boast a strong scientific foundation and real-world performance capabilities. These advancements translate to tangible benefits including reduced injury rates, decreased employee turnover, and increased productivity. With a growing number of models entering the market each year, safety professionals face a crucial question: How do I choose the right exoskeleton for my workforce to effectively address our specific needs?

This article explores key questions to ask vendors before purchasing and implementing exoskeletons. We will focus on back exos, the most prevalent type, as they address the most common workplace needs, but many of these principles apply to exoskeletons that support other body parts. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make an informed decision and select the exoskeleton that best fits your organization's requirements and empowers your workforce.

Key Considerations When Evaluating Exoskeletons

Assistance

The fundamental purpose of an exoskeleton is to provide assistance, reduce strain, and limit fatigue. However, not all exoskeletons are created equal. It's crucial to understand if the exo you are considering has a strong scientific background validating it can effectively reduce back strain, as well as real-world data indicating the exo can lower a worker’s perceived exertion. There are also other factors to consider, such as how the exo’s own weight might reduce assistance, or how the exo assists in more complex movements like lifting while twisting.

Questions to ask:

• • "Can you provide scientific publications demonstrating the benefits of your technology?"
  • "Do you have real-world data on worker benefits such as perceived exertion scores?"
  • "What is the net assistance provided, considering the weight of the exoskeleton?"

Comfort

If an exoskeleton isn't comfortable, employees won't wear it. All-day usability is essential for maximizing the benefits of the technology. This includes maintaining physical comfort across a variety of user tasks, as well retaining thermal comfort in the hot or cold environments often experienced in logistics, manufacturing, and other use cases. A usable exo will also be compatible with the other PPE and tools of the target user group, allowing them to perform their job seamlessly while wearing an exo.

Questions to ask:

• • "Can the exoskeleton be worn comfortably for an entire workday in the conditions my workers will face?"
  • "Is it compatible with various types of work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)?"
  • "What are the key comfort features of the exoskeleton?"

Ease of Use

Complex donning/doffing procedures and lengthy training sessions can hinder adoption of some wearable technologies. Simplicity is key to successful implementation. An exo that is easy to use promotes consistent usage and reduces the burden on both employees and trainers. It also reduces the barrier to expanding exo use as new employees are trained on the technology.

Questions to ask:

• • "How long does it typically take to train a new user?"
  • "Can you provide training materials and resources for our team?"
  • "How easy is it to don and doff the exoskeleton?"

Freedom of Movement

Exoskeletons should enhance, not restrict, movement. Employees need to be able to perform their job duties without interference - whether those tasks are in tight spaces, require extreme bends or twists, or involve entering and exiting a forklift truck on a regular basis.

Questions to ask:

• • "Does the exoskeleton interfere with common work tasks?"
  • "Does it allow for a full range of motion?"
  • "Can users easily navigate tight spaces while wearing the exoskeleton?"

Training, Support, and Scalability

Comprehensive training and ongoing support are essential for successful implementation and long-term use. It’s critical to ensure the training is comprehensive, easy to understand, and is repeatable for either individual users or large groups. As the implementations scale in size, the vendor should have capacity to train large groups of users, and be able to respond in real-time to any issues that may arise. Be sure to understand if the vendor can support your deployment in the long term and help you expand when you are ready.

The plan for training at scale is also critical. Implementing exoskeletons successfully requires a scalable solution for your business. The vendor's capacity to train large groups of users, with responsive support personnel. Be sure to understand if the vendor can support your deployment in the long term and help you expand when you are ready.

Questions to ask:

• • "Can you support an initial deployment of 25, 50, or even 100 users simultaneously?"
  • "What is your process for onboarding and long-term support for both small and large groups of users?"
  • "Do you have experience scaling deployments within organizations similar to ours? Can you give examples of long-term successful clients?"

Sizing

A proper fit is crucial for both comfort and effectiveness. The exoskeleton should accommodate the diverse body types within your workforce. An effective exo is also one that can fit all workers, not just the ones who have a specific body type.

Questions to ask:

• • "What size range does the exoskeleton accommodate?"
  • “Can it support workers whose body type does not fit the common ‘large’ or ‘small’ standard?
  • "Can the exoskeleton be adjusted to fit both men and women comfortably and effectively?"

Environmental Factors

Work environments can be challenging. The exoskeleton should be able to withstand the conditions in which it will be used. Research what conditions the exo is designed to withstand, such as water exposure, temperature extremes, abrasion, and other commonly encountered elements.

Questions to ask:

• • "Can the exoskeleton be used in hot, cold, wet, or dusty environments?"
  • "How will these environmental factors affect the exoskeleton's performance and maintenance requirements?"
  • "Is the exoskeleton compatible with cold-weather gear and other PPE?"

Maintenance, Storage, and Cleaning

Proper maintenance, storage, and cleaning ensure the longevity and effectiveness of an exoskeleton. A good exo should be easy to maintain, have a long lifespan, and be simple to service if a component wears out or becomes damaged.

Questions to ask:

• • "What are the recommended cleaning and maintenance procedures?"
  • "Is there a warranty for components?"
  • "How should the exoskeleton be stored when not in use?"

Evidence on Injury Reduction, Productivity, and ROI

Ultimately, the goal of deploying an exo is to improve safety, productivity, and the bottom line. Vendors should be able to provide data to support their claims. Examine the real-world results that the vendor can provide demonstrating real clients who have demonstrated cost savings by deploying their solution.

Questions to ask:

• • "Do you have evidence such as specific data or case studies that shows your exoskeleton reduces workplace injuries?"
  • "What data do you have demonstrating that productivity is maintained or increased with the use of your exoskeleton?"
  • "How soon can I expect to see a return on investment in your exoskeleton program?"

By carefully considering these questions and engaging in thorough discussions with vendors, safety professionals can confidently select the exoskeleton that best meets their organization's needs and empowers their workforce to work safer and more efficiently.

To answer these questions for HeroWear’s Apex 2 exosuit, and to learn more about how we can help your workforce be safer and more productive, visit www.HeroWearExo.com.

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