Our ergonomic consulting services support litigation with regard to work related repeated trauma and overexertion injuries, including associated product, equipment, or tool use. We are able to help clients:

• Estimate workplace, task, and product use risk
• Develop plaintiff and defendant strategies
• Develop and conduct on-site investigations
• Educate legal professionals concerning specific types of injuries or disorders, workplace factors, anatomical structures, and associated research
• Review and critique expert witness testimony
• Review and investigate marketing related statements

Methods and Techniques
We utilize various methods and techniques based on research and published best practices, including:

• User observation and surveying
• User centered product testing
• Time study and work sampling methods
• Biomechanical modeling
• Physiological modeling
• Repetitive lifting analysis
• Anthropometry measurement and calculation
• Direct measurement

Direct Measurement
When necessary, we utilize sophisticated equipment and techniques to quantify worker biofeedback (e.g., bodily responses) and workplace factors, including:

• Electromyography (EMG): To identify muscle use, relative effort levels, and fatigue potential
• Electrogoniometry: To identify postural deviations or non-neutral postures, and motion patterns
• Heart rate monitoring: To identify heart rate elevations to estimate physiological demand or cost of work
• Lumbar Motion Monitor (LMM): To identify 3D back postures and motion
• Pressure mapping: To identify pressure and force levels, distributions, and patterns
• Vibration/shock: To identify random oscillation or impulse magnitudes imposed on the hand-arm or whole body
• Heat stress monitoring: To identify thermal environmental factors and worker exposure
• Noise monitoring/dosimetry: To identify sound levels and exposure to the ambient environment or specific source
• Illumination monitoring: To identify light levels and uniformity ratios relative to existing fixtures and layouts