Presidential Young Investigators Award: Instruments for Measuring Exposure to Repetitive Manual Work

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The major objective of this effort is to pursue basic and applied research in the area of ergonomics. Specific objectives include (1) advancing theory for developing instruments and analytical methods for measuring and assessing exposure to physical stress in repetitive manual work, (2) investigating performance deficits associated with exposure to these stresses, and (3) enhancing performance and preventing injuries by establishing exposure and job design guidelines based on these measurements. Physical stress in the workplace has been recognized as an underlying cause of decreased productivity, reduced work quality, operator discomfort, worker dissatisfaction, and increased incidence of injuries. Disabilities resulting from excessive exposure to these stresses incur significant costs to industry in the form of medical bills, worker's compensation, reduced productivity, lost time, and human suffering. The ultimate goal of this research is the development of effective quantitative guidelines for enhancing manual performance and protecting workers from harmful exposure to physical stress.