ISE Seminar: Rob Radwin

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One Measurement is Worth a Thousand Observations: or
How I learned to stop worrying and love imprecision
Robert G. Radwin, PhD, CPE
Duane H. and Dorothy M. Bluemke Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract:
Repetitive motion injuries and lower back pain in the workplace impose a significant socioeconomic burden and substantial personal toll on health, prosperity and wellbeing. For prevention of work-related injuries, it has become increasingly more important to frequently or continuously monitor workers’ exposure to physical demands for varying job tasks. As work becomes more complex, better exposure metrics will need to be developed. Today’s innovations include technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), integrated sensing, and computer vision. New technologies will undoubtedly bring better exposure metrics that will likely arise from the ability to more readily measure, collect and process exposures in the workplace. Researchers are starting to utilize these technologies for measuring exposures, offering more precision and reliability, and less so for accuracy or validity. We explore these issues and suggest directions for future advances in musculoskeletal disorder prevention and interventions.
Biography:
Professor Radwin is the Duane H. and Dorothy M. Blumeke Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is widely known for his work on biomechanics and hand tools and has introduced new approaches for studying muscle strain, grip and hand exertions, and ways to measure and quantify physical stress in the workplace. He has received numerous awards as an innovator and researcher, and is a fellow of six professional societies, and is the Editor in Chief for the journal Human Factors. He is founding chair of the UW-Madison Department of Biomedical Engineering.