Dr. Andris Freivalds

Professor of Industrial Engineering

Department:  Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
College:  College of Engineering
Address:  310 Leonhard Building
Phone:  814-863-2361
Fax:  814-863-4745
E-mail: axf@psu.edu
Website: http://www.personal.psu.edu/axf/

Cumulative Trauma Disorders Research 
The Center for Cumulative Trauma Disorders Research Center serves as the focal point of ergonomic service to small and medium sized industries in Pennsylvania. The Center provides individualized attention to companies via:

* worksite assessment for cumulative trauma disorders (CTD*) risk;
* medical data analysis;
* hazard control for the critical jobs using engineering controls;
* training, both general ergonomic awareness training for production workers and in-depth engineering/ergonomics training for engineers, supervisors and mid level management.

Currently, CTD risk is assessed using various checklists developed by the Center for Cumulative Trauma Disorders at Penn State in a form similar to that recommended by OSHA. The technique scores jobs from videotape for various awkward motions, frequencies, forces, and working conditions, which are then weighted and summated to yield and overall risk score.

As part of this reserach effort, there has been considerable work in redesigning hand tools fand equipment or either the manufacturers of the tools or the companies that a more unique piece of equipment that needs to be modified. Some of the more specific examples of redesigns include: crimpers, wrenches, screwdrivers, shovels, apple buckets, and (more recently) garderning tools for women.

Desk-Compatible Exercise at Office Workstations
Americans are becoming increasingly obese and seek ways to lose weight through exercise. Because of busy work and family schedules, exercise before or after their 8-hour workday (which may also include several hour commutes) becomes problematic. One alternative is to exercise at work, but typical approaches using treadmills is not feasible due their costs and the amount of space that they require. An alternate approach is to use an under-the-table exercise device and pedal while performing their work at an office workstation.

This research study aims to find out the efficiency (calories burnt per time) of a modified pedal device and how potential users would accept pedaling on it as a daily routine while at work. Another consideration is whether their work performance decreases while exercising. Subjects will have four exercise conditions (normal sitting, low level [15 W] exercise, high level [25 W] exercise and a preferred level) and four different types of cognitive tasks of the MAT-B computerized program. Assistance is needed in running these experiments.

*cumulative trauma disorders = injuries that develop gradually over many weeks or months due to repeated stress on a part of the upper extremity, a major medical expense for US industry. This is also known as repetitive motion syndrome.