Ergonomics and Work Physiology Lab (EWP)

The Ergonomics and Work Physiology Laboratory in the Department of Public Health at Temple University is a research center for the study of work–related injuries. With the overarching goal of prevention of these injuries, we aim to identify the ergonomic exposures of jobs through work simulations. Through characterization of physiological measures during such simulations, we aim to discover more about the pathophysiology of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Equipment includes a Qualsys motion analysis system, surface EMG amplifier, heart rate monitors, thermal camera, near infrared spectrometer, light source and probes (NIRS system) to measure relative blood volume, manual push-pull force gauges, goniometers, and dynamometers. Specialized software includes the CAD program MannequinPRO, 3D Static Strength Prediction Program, Energy Expenditure Prediction Program, and ThermaCAM Researcher Pro. MATLAB and C compilers are also available. In addition to research activities, the lab is used in the course Ergonomics/Human Factors.