Evaluation of Passive Occupational Exoskeletons in Port Embarkation and Disembarkation of Ships: Two Case Studies

Despite numerous laboratory studies, assessments of occupational exoskeletons (OEs) with experienced workers remain limited in the state of the art. This work presents a study conducted in the port operations of containers and goods load and unload inside cargo ships, to investigate the effectiveness of two OEs. Such operations are manually demanding and can increase the physical burden of port operators, which may result in the development of work-related musculoskeletal diseases. Two commercially-available passive OEs were tested, an upper-limb and a lower-back exoskeleton. Electromyography (EMG) data and subjective perceptions of effort were collected. Results show significant reductions in EMG activity for both exoskeletons, particularly in shoulder and trunk muscles. The results of the questionnaires indicated a good perceived usability and acceptance of the devices. This study demonstrates the potential effectiveness of passive OEs in reducing physical strain in port operations. Results align with findings in other work contexts.