These six topics are consolidated from those identified by the five academic workgroups that met in Houston, where attendees were asked to identify the research topics from Appendix A or other topics where progress seems most feasible in the next five years. They did not discuss the surveillance topics listed in Appendix A.
Initiate a new prospective ergonomics study. Although the length of the study may be longer than a few years, the initial cross-sectional and longitudinal data would be valuable.
Develop accurate risk assessment models. Develop a comprehensive, multi-factorial model of the predominant causes of repetitive motion disorders. For example, for wrist disorders, address all the contributing causes, including personal variables, like demographics and medical history, work factors, off-the-job factors, and physical and psychosocial factors. Develop job simulation models to predict stress on the job.
Study workers in understudied industries, such as agriculture and construction. Investigate task performance, capabilities, tolerances, and limitations among special worker populations, such as older workers, pregnant women, and those exposed to lead as children. Address the question of why workers respond differently to interventions; focus should be on the workers who do well.
Acquire more information by age and gender on grip strength norms for the industrial population or the adaptations that occur in repetitive work as reflected in grip strength. Include different postures, not just one regular grip strength posture.
Study the relationship between acute trauma and chronic disorders, particularly whether an acute injury of the back, hand, shoulder, or neck predisposes a person to a chronic disorder. Study how self-reported symptoms relate to acute and chronic disorders.
Retain a balance between controlled laboratory studies and field studies; both have their place. Conduct research on participatory versus nonparticipatory ergonomics research to evaluate the value of participatory research.
Develop a "gold standard" for measuring biomechanical factors.
Improve the scientific basis for predictive tools, like the NIOSH lifting equation, and evaluate their effectiveness.
Develop simple, validated assessment tools for hazard surveillance and intervention.
Initiate effort to develop an upper extremity equation similar to the NIOSH lift equation.
Acquire more data on human capacities.
Developing methods to identify .
Quantify physical stress.
Use state-of-the-art technology to develop better exposure assessment tools, using dynamic biomechanical models.
Develop good tools to assess exposure/effect relationships at the target tissue level. Develop better quantitative tools for tissue load assessment, especially for field studies.
Develop standardized and validated definitions for the gamut of adverse health effects (ranging from biochemical markers to preclinical effects, symptoms, and permanent disability) and better health effect assessment methods.
Develop a gold standard for diagnosis of MSD.
Conduct basic research into injury mechanisms and models. Define effective return-to-work strategies, and define what causes "bad" outcomes.
Conduct intervention studies.
Identify and replicate effective ergonomic programs in specific businesses or industries.
Institute intervention activities on lower extremity problems.
Conduct research on back belts.
Evaluate whether shoe inserts work.
Create a publication database and a detailed solutions database.
Develop guidelines or a handbook for process and product engineers and designers to incorporate ergonomic principles into their work.
Improve training and education tools and methods, including those for children.
Develop a public awareness campaign to explain ergonomics to the general public.
Develop a task force to facilitate research by linking researchers and industry and by encouraging industry to participate in ergonomic research efforts.
Identify means of "immunizing" industry for participation. Provide anonymity for corporations with industry-wide studies and surveillance and other methods.
Develop a mechanism to support multi-disciplinary research efforts. Create ergonomic research centers. Foster collaborative associations (researchers, clinicians, industry). Create a common ergonomics language that is used by engineers, health professionals, and industry. Ergonomics is interdisciplinary, yet currently the different disciplines cannot talk to each other.
Piggyback ergonomic medical tests onto large, pre-existing prospective studies like those of NHANES or the Institute of Aging. While these would never be comprehensive in scope, they could provide valuable benchmarks or reference values on a variety of basic physiological functions and human capacity profiles. For example, include a few hand function maneuvers, like grip strength measures.
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