Author ORCID Identifier
Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Industrial and Managements Systems Engineering
Committee Chair
JuHyeong Ryu
Committee Member
Avishek Choudhury
Committee Member
Zeyu Liu
Abstract
Physically demanding tasks pose significant challenges to worker health, safety, and productivity across various industrial sectors in the United States. The construction industry is particularly affected due to the labor-intensive nature of its tasks and harsh environmental conditions. The industry suffers from unsatisfactory occupational health and safety records, with physical fatigue being a major contributor. Physical fatigue not only affects individual well-being and workplace safety but also influences productivity and the United States’ economy. Given the high incidence of injuries and accidents in the construction industry, assessing physical fatigue has become critical for improving worker safety and productivity. To address this need, this thesis consists of two specific aims: (1) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of emerging technologies that reduce ergonomic hazards and examine current fatigue assessment methods used in the construction industry and (2) to investigate a multimodal physical fatigue assessment method utilizing a wearable sensor embedded with biomarkers and accelerometers. A laboratory-based experiment was conducted with twenty-two participants who performed heavy material handling tasks involving 33.07 lbs. weight. Both physiological data, such as heart rate and skin temperature, and kinematic data, namely jerk—a time derivative of acceleration—were collected along with subjective fatigue assessment scores using Borg’s RPE (6-20) scale. The incorporation of jerk addresses the limitations of physiological data, particularly in tasks that require precise motor control, such as assembling delicate parts and laparoscopic surgery. In such tasks, physiological variables may remain unchanged compared to resting conditions, making it difficult to assess fatigue. However, the inclusion of jerk as a variable provides valuable insights into motor control and motion smoothness, enabling a more accurate and reliable assessment of physical fatigue. The results indicate that integration of these datasets can objectively and accurately assess physical fatigue, demonstrating the significant potential for multimodal method across various industrial settings. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health by demonstrating the integration of multiple datasets that can accurately assess physical fatigue. The implementation of the multimodal assessment method can prevent fatigue-related accidents and injuries in workplaces, enhance occupational safety, and eventually contribute to increased productivity and economic growth.
Recommended Citation
Rahman, Md Hadisur, "A Multimodal Physical Fatigue Assessment Method Using a Biomarker and Accelerometer-Embedded Wearable Wristband" (2024). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12707.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12707
Included in
Ergonomics Commons, Industrial Engineering Commons, Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons
