The Potential for Exoskeletons to Improve Health and Safety in Agriculture—Perspectives from Service Providers

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS

The use of exoskeletons has the potential to benefit workers by supporting non-neutral work postures and reducing physical exertions. However, little is known about the specific factors that may influence the adoption and use of exoskeletons in the agricultural sector. We captured the perspectives of experts in Farm Health and Safety on the potential for exoskeleton use in farming. Lifting/carrying heavy loads, operating hand tools, and climbing equipment were highlighted as tasks most likely to benefit from exoskeleton adoption. Back and knee exoskeletons were ranked as the modules with the greatest potential for application. Affordability, durability, compatibility with farming equipment, and versatility when operating diverse kinds of machinery emerged as the most important adoption factors. Body stress, getting caught on equipment, unexpected failure and fall risks were highlighted as key barriers to adoption. These results are discussed to enable the agricultural sector to benefit from exoskeleton technologies in practice.

Keywords:

• Assistive technology
• farming
• ergonomics
• technology adoption

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a National Science Foundation grant #1718801. The sponsors did not influence the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.