WEBINAR: Smart Work Clothes
About the webinar
To overcome some of the weaknesses of present preventive approaches to MSDs (musculoskeletal disorders), the concept of smart work clothes was developed. Sensors are woven into or attached to work clothes. These sensors measure heart rate, breathing, muscle activity, movements and postures continuously, and the measurement signals are transferred wirelessly to a mobile telephone and stored there. The worker performs his or her ordinary work wearing these clothes. Analysis programs, that are based on ergonomics research and methods, calculate risk of MSDs for the assessed workplaces and work situations. The system can also be used for work technique training, where a signal (light, sound or vibration) gives feedback to the user when he or she adopts adverse work postures or movements.
The webinar will start with showing the extent of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in society and among different occupational groups. Thereafter the economic consequences will be highlighted.
The presentation of the smart work clothes will include pictures of the system developed and of applications in working life.
About the lecturer
Jörgen Eklund is professor emeritus in ergonomics at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. He has worked as a work environment engineer and as a consultant in industry. His research has included applied ergonomics improvement for different occupational groups, prevention of MSDs, risk assessment methods, product design and production development. He has together with a group of multidisciplinary researchers at KTH and Karolinska Institutet for many years worked with the development of smart work clothes as a way of preventing MSDs.
