Innovative Interventions to Prevent Back Injuries in Manufacturing and Healthcare Settings

As industries continue to evolve, the importance of improved ergonomics and reduced musculoskeletal strain remains a top priority for workers’ health and productivity. Innovative interventions such as back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) have shown promise in occupational settings, yet their adoption remains limited due to practical challenges and user acceptance in real-world environments. I will present our research and insights aimed at addressing these gaps, including postural control and neuromuscular adaptations observed during simulated automotive assembly tasks designed to replicate real-world complexities. We also discuss efforts to simulate the effects of wearing a BSE, which allows for rapid testing of exoskeleton designs and anthropometric variations. I will highlight our ongoing work on fatigue-related neuromuscular adaptations associated with BSEs, optimizing support levels, and addressing gender- and race-related considerations in their design and testing. I will conclude with a discussion of our collaboration with a local health system to implement best practices for safe and effective worker mobility programs, with a particular focus on challenges faced by nursing staff in adopting the Johns Hopkins Early Mobility Program.

Dr. Zeinab Kazemi is a postdoctoral fellow funded by the NSF Future of Work at the HumanTechnology Frontier program, working in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Clemson University. She earned her master's and PhD degrees in Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Dr Kazemi’s research focuses on improving human health, safety, and performance in occupational settings by integrating HF/E principles with innovative interventions. The core of her work is modeling and simulation of neuromuscular and biomechanical adaptations to occupational activities and exploring innovative interventions to mitigate the adverse effects. Her current research focuses on modeling the biomechanical costs associated with exoskeletons in occupational settings. She is also studying the factors that influence user acceptance of exoskeleton technology, intending to facilitate its integration into real-world applications. She has an extensive record of publications and presentations in the field of HF/E. She has also received several prestigious awards, including a PhD dissertation grant from the Neuroscience Institute and the NIOSH Pilot/Small Project Research Training grant, which funded her postdoctoral research on the effectiveness of back-support exoskeletons in reducing muscle fatigue.