Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) is exploring the ways in which it can increase the rate at which professionals in the construction industry take up exoskeletons.
Scottish Construction Now reported that the organisation is part of an international team that’s launching an initiative to encourage more businesses in construction and manufacturing to provide exoskeletons for their employees.
The news provider explained that the initiative aims to make the North Sea region a “leading exoskeleton ecosystem”.
It noted that, across the EU, an estimated 44 million workers are affected by workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders. Encouraging more workers, particularly in sectors such as construction and manufacturing, to wear exoskeletons could provide additional protection and reduce the risk of them developing such disorders in the future.
EXSKALLERATE, the name of the European project that’s pushing for greater exoskeleton uptake, is due to run over the next three years, placing a particular focus on SMEs.
Coordinator of the initiative Anton Duisterwinkel told the news provider that the aim is to help people in the manufacturing and construction sectors to work into older age “in a healthy and happy way”.
“Once established in these industries, we expect other industries, such as logistics and agriculture, to follow rapidly,” he stated.
Lucy Black, director of innovation and engagement at CSIC, explained that greater use of exoskeletons has “the potential to transform the construction and manufacturing industries by improving safety and efficiency, and reducing the long-term costs associated with poor employee health and sickness”.
Construction Global recently pointed out that Highways England is investing heavily in new technology to help improve productivity and health and safety across its sites. The introduction of driverless machines, for instance, is not only expected to boost productivity but also to significantly reduce accident rates.
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