Forestry, nursery, and planting tasks involve repetitive trunk flexion, squatting, and kneeling, as well as manual handling, increasing musculoskeletal load, and the need for mobility-related safety measures. Passive exoskeletons could mitigate postural exposure and reduce the overall body workload. We conducted a preliminary study (n = 14) to test the feasibility of a protocol and estimated model- and task-specific trends during standardized simulated nursery activities in a laboratory setting. Participants simulated planting and seeding tasks (loads of 0.5–2 kg) and material handling and preparation tasks (loads of 5–15 kg) without an exoskeleton (No-EXO) and with three passive models (EXO 1–EXO 3). EXO 3 was excluded from the planting tasks for feasibility reasons. Whole-body kinematics were recorded using an IMU-based motion capture system and converted into time-based ergonomic exposure outcomes (OWAS and RULA). Physiological load was monitored via heart-rate (HR) measurements. Compared to the No-EXO condition, exoskeleton use shifted posture exposure towards lower-risk categories. The largest improvements were observed with EXO 2 and EXO 3 during material handling (OWAS: −18%/−20%; RULA action-level reduction: −25%/−39%) and with EXO 2 during planting/seeding (OWAS: −15%; RULA: −26%). HRmax did not increase across tasks or conditions and HR tended not to rise with higher workload when exoskeletons were used. Overall, the results suggest positive ergonomic and workload trends related to the model and tasks. Field validation on uneven terrain with full personal protective equipment and harness integration is needed to confirm usability and support and to define implementation requirements (fit, compatibility with PPE, and safe-use conditions).
Röhrich et al. (Sat,) studied this question.