{"id":35123,"date":"2017-09-21T11:39:16","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T10:39:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=35123"},"modified":"2017-09-21T11:39:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-21T10:39:16","slug":"eksovest-to-enable-construction-workers-to-lift-heavy-objects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/eksovest-to-enable-construction-workers-to-lift-heavy-objects\/35123\/","title":{"rendered":"EksoVest to enable construction workers to lift heavy objects"},"content":{"rendered":"

A robotic vest designed to allow construction workers to lift heavy objects with reduced exposure to injury or muscle strain is set to launch in the UK next spring<\/h2>\n

The EksoVest, developed by California-based firm Ekso Bionics, is a form of exoskeleton, worn like a backpack, that can provide 2.3-6.8kg of vertical lift per arm when lifting tools or materials.<\/p>\n

The device, which weighs 4.3kg, is being put to the test by construction companies in the US and Canada, ready for production in September, with a UK rollout planned for March 2018.<\/p>\n

The ability to enhance upper body strength could open up construction careers to many more people, says Tom Mastaler, Ekso Bionics\u2019 senior vice-president of business development.<\/p>\n

Mastaler said: \u201cOur device removes the brute force nature of the job, making smaller workers capable of doing what only larger workers were able to in the past.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many companies it will overcome the problem of workers\u2019 bodies\u00a0being gradually broken down over a 20-25-year period, resulting in early retirement or the need to move into other jobs to avoid injuries <\/a>or surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The EksoVest is fastened to the hips and incorporates two mechanical shoulders that follow the movement of the upper body as the worker carries out tasks. As the elbows rise to chest level or above, a gas spring engages to provide up to 6.8kg of vertical lift per arm to provide additional support for tools or parts.<\/p>\n

A main aim is to reduce the risk of injury to workers <\/a>that have to work overhead for long periods of time, who experience strain in the lower neck, upper back, shoulders and arms.<\/p>\n

Mastaler added: \u201cUniversity studies on the vest suggest a 20% to 45% reduction in muscle fatigue associated with the work task, depending on the size and shape of the worker.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt enables the worker to focus on accomplishing the task at hand rather than having to take frequent breaks to recover strength. The quality of work is also higher because they are not becoming fatigued and can ensure the work is done correctly.\u201d<\/p>\n

EksoVest has a list price of $6,000 (\u00a34,640) and will be sold with a range of \u201csoft goods\u201d to make it comfortable for different-sized workers for different applications.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A robotic vest designed to allow construction workers to lift heavy objects with reduced exposure to injury or muscle strain is set to launch in the UK next spring<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[304],"tags":[676,432],"stakeholder_rel_tag":[],"contributor_rel_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-35123","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-planning-construction-news","7":"tag-construction","8":"tag-health-safety"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEksoVest to enable construction workers to lift heavy objects | Planning, Building & Construction Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A robotic vest designed to 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