Adoption potential of occupational exoskeletons in diverse enterprises engaged in manufacturing tasks

Occupational exoskeletons (EXOs) provide the opportunity to reduce fatigue and physical demands, however little is known about adoption and use of such technologies especially among varying company sizes and especially small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Ten focus groups (including seven SMEs) were held across the state of Ohio, with participants representing line employees, management, and safety. Employees tried on a variety of EXOs and then participated in discussions focusing on the adoption and use of this new technology at their site. Consistent comments were obtained regarding donning, fitting, dissemination, and use strategies; space constraints related to EXO “footprints”; and potential undesirable impacts of EXO use. Major concerns expressed by participants were task-specific, and were related to costs and work conditions (e.g., humidity, temperature, dust). Overall, individuals from larger companies and diverse SMEs expressed a strong interest in how EXOs could help employees with repetitive tasks that were often difficult to modify or eliminate. Many concerns still exist, though, regarding specific benefits and costs, how to develop training programs on EXO use, and understanding potential adverse effects of EXO use. Findings from this study help capture the perspectives of diverse enterprises toward adopting and using occupational EXOs to reduce the risk of injury.     

The consultant as expert witness in school and workplace cases—Part 2.

This article provides a review of both Part 1 and Part 2 of a series of the Consulting Psychology Journal on the consultant as an expert witness in school and workplace cases. Part 1 covered topics such as professional consultants as expert witnesses from a legal perspective, sexual harassment and retaliation cases in the workplace, and special education consultants in due process hearings. In part 2, three articles focus on violence in the workplace and two articles alert the consulting psychologist to the issues related to malingering by clients and how to detect it. These articles are meant to provide a sampling of contemporary issues for which the mental health consultant may provide expert testimony in litigation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social stigma—The psychology of marked relationships.

Reviews the book, Social stigma—The psychology of marked relationships by Edward Jones, Amerigo Farina, Albert Hastorf, Hazel Marks, Dale Miller, Robert Scott, and Rita French (1984). This book presents one of the more incisive analyses to date of the stigmatizing process. It is a scholarly and timely review of the literature examining the social and psychological factors of relationships between those who are "normal" and those who are "deviant" in some fashion. Individuals with differences—the disabled, the disfigured, ex-mental patients, and ex-convicts—are considered. The material presented is relevant for the social scientist exploring the vicissitudes of stereotyping, and also for the practicing clinician attempting to deal with the daily demands of rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)