System and method to predict and avoid musculoskeletal injuries

Abstract

A miniaturized, ruggedized, field-deployable Portable Exposure Assessment System (PEAS) is used to remotely monitor workers and provide real-time warning of exposure to musculoskeletal injury conditions via alarm and smart-phone transmission. The PEAS unit wirelessly acquires exposure data from sensors; conducts initial data analysis; triggers proximal and remote alarms; sends out text messages with abnormal data, GPS locations, and time stamps to a safety office; and saves data for more extensive assessment. Sensor technology is used in this field-deployable system to simultaneously measure and collect the body loads and awkward postures imposed by package handling as well as driving-related, low-frequency vibration exposures. Wireless technology is used to set up wireless communication links between the sensors and a data logger and between the data logger and a smart phone with GPS, date/time stamp and text messaging capabilities.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.