SBIR-STTR Award

The purpose of this project is to develop a website devoted to providing ergonomics solutions to help reduce the risk factors for workplace Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)in general industry. The website will be searchable and browsable by task, industry, and MSD risk factor. Solutions will include commercially available products, equipment modifications that can be made in-house, and improved work methods. These solutions will be adapted from the PI's library of reports, photographs, and other information that have been accumulated over a 30-year period in ergonomics consulting projects performed in over 1300 individual workplaces. In a survey of existing websites, researchers found no websites currently available with the breadth and level of detail planned for the proposed product. The solutions will be organized and described in a manner that is educational, helping users to understand the appropriate application of each, including standard pros and cons and possible unintended consequences. Furthermore, an overview "tutorial" on background ergonomics principles will be provided, along with links to additional support materials, such as books, training videotapes, and analytic tools. Thus, this website constitutes a component of a larger package of support. The solutions will be oriented towards reduction of specific risk factors for MSDs that are well- established in the scientific literature (primarily methods to improve awkward postures and reduce exertion, but also including techniques to reduce motions, contact stress, and static loading of muscles). The target users of this website are personnel such as occupational safety staff and production engineers from individual workplaces in general industry that involve high risk for MSDs, i.e., those facilities that involve significant manual material handling and production operations whether categorized in the service industry or manufacturing sectors. The initial prototype website will focus on light manufacturing. The website will be designed to be easily expandable in the future to include other high risk occupational categories in general industry such as delivery services and maintenance tasks. The Phase I research objective is to evaluate the usability of the prototype ergonomics website. Core research questions include: (1) Does the website contain useful information? (2) Are topics and results easily found within the website? (3) Is this website more effective than current alternatives for finding possible engineering controls for MSDs? Selected individuals from this target user group will constitute the survey population. Evaluation of the website will include standard methods of website usability research, i.e., surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, and performance measurements. Phase I of this project will seek qualitative feedback from users and Phase II will address follow-up questions using greater emphasis on quantitative methods. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Work-related MSDs are the most prevalent, most expensive, and most preventable workplace injuries in the U.S. A major barrier to prevention efforts is for personnel in general industry to find practical information on feasible engineering controls for their specific and often unique operations. This project seeks to help reduce the scientifically established risk factors for work-related MSDs by converting a large library of known ergonomics solutions for general industry into a website that provides useful and easily accessible information.

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The purpose of this project is to develop a website knowledgebase of ergonomics solutions to help reduce the risk factors for workplace Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)* in general industry. Two ergonomics consulting businesses are involved: 1. Dan MacLeod LLC is a firm that specializes in working with employers in general industry to identify practical solutions that reduce the risk of workplace MSDs. The company maintains a large library of reports, photographs, video clips, and related information on feasible methods to reduce MSD risk factors compiled from ergonomics evaluations over a 30-year period in more than 1500 individual workplaces. The president is the Principle Investigator (PI). 2. ErgoWeb, Inc., maintains an existing commercial website, where the solutions knowledgebase will be housed. The website contains a variety of evaluation tools, educational materials, and news that can be accessed by payment of an annual subscription fee. The site also accepts advertising as a source of additional review, plus the company provides consulting services to general industry. Customers of the website are generally large corporations. The president is Peter Budnick, Ph.D., who serves as the primary Key Person and consultant in this application. The goal of Phase I of the project was to develop a prototype website, applying techniques of usability research with focus groups of potential users in an on-going iterative fashion to structure the information to be easy to access and understand. The prototype now contains over 1000 practical solutions centered on Material Handling and Workstation Design and is in use. Phase II of the project will be to add 4000 more solutions and to continue to research how to make the site as user-friendly and effective as possible. Phase II will expand the topics to include Hand Tools, Maintenance, Machine Operation, and Warehousing, along with other similar tasks. Considerable emphasis is being placed on providing low-cost, low-tech solutions, including items that can be fabricated in-house. Links to commercial vendors of products are also provided in the site. The solutions apply to multiple sectors of the economy, i.e., both manufacturing and service. Furthermore, the site is usable by both private and government employers as well as by small and large operations. Multiple portals are being created to facilitate ease of use by persons of different backgrounds. Additionally, tutorials and step-by-step guidelines are provided. * A general class of conditions that involve the nerves, tendons, muscles, and supporting structures of the body. Risk factors include awkward postures, excessive force, repetitive motions, static load, and vibration.

Public Health Relevance:
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are the most prevalent, most expensive, and most preventable workplace injuries in the U.S. A major barrier to prevention efforts is for personnel in general industry to find practical information on feasible engineering controls for their specific and often unique operations. This project seeks to help prevent these injuries by converting a large library of known ergonomics solutions for general industry into a commercial website knowledgebase.

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