In order of present to past

Notes

1. Some research projects are not listed in order to preserve the  confidentiality of the commercial sponsor.

2.  R.W. Marklin was the principal investigator (P.I.) on all the following projects except where noted.

SPONSOR:

ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (EPRI)

Project:

A Systematic Method for Specification, Purchase and Upfitting of Fleet Vehicles in the Electric Power Industry

Period:

Sept. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2011

Budget:

$898,124

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to develop an efficient method for electric utilities to specify and then purchase fleet vehicles, which range from pickup trucks to aerial bucket trucks, so workers can use the trucks productively and with minimal risk of injury.  This method will also minimize total cost of original vehicles and subsequent upfitting (retrofitting).

Sponsor:

HERMAN MILLER, INC. (OFFICE FURNITURE MANUFACTURER)

Project:

Metabolic Study of Office Workers using an Office Chair

Period:

Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008

Budget:

$76,886

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cardiac and ventilatory load, as measured by heart rate (cardiac) and tidal volume and respiratory rate (ventilatory), of office workers who use a new office chair.

Sponsor:

ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (epri)

Project:

Evaluation and Design of Substations for Electric Utilities

Period:

Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008 

Budget:

$54,000

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate substations to determine how physical injuries and accidents can be prevented.

Sponsor:

ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (epri)

Project

Ergonomics Process for Workers in Fossil Electric Power Plants                  

Period:

June 15, 2005 to Dec. 31, 2008

Budget:

$468,254

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to build upon the success of the 2 previous EPRI studies for overhead and underground workers, which resulted in 3 published handbooks, and tailor an ergonomics process for electric power workers who work in fossil power plants (coal, oil or gas-powered).  Two ergonomics teams will be setup at We Energies for electricians and power plant operators.  The culmination of this project will be 2 ergonomics handbooks for electricians and power electricians and plant operators that will show how typical tasks can be changed to minimize the incidence and severity of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses.  As with the past 2 projects, We Energies generously agreed to be the host utility for this project.

Sponsor:

ELECTRIC POWER RESEARCH INSTITUTE (epri)

Project:

Development of an Ergonomics Process for Underground Line Workers in the  Electric Power Industry

Period:

June 15, 2005 to Dec. 31, 2008

Budget:

$468,254

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to build upon the success of the 2 previous EPRI studies for overhead and underground workers, which resulted in 3 published handbooks, and tailor an ergonomics process for electric power workers who work in fossil power plants (coal, oil or gas-powered).  Two ergonomics teams will be setup at We Energies for electricians and power plant operators.  The culmination of this project will be 2 ergonomics handbooks for electricians and power electricians and plant operators that will show how typical tasks can be changed to minimize the incidence and severity of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses.  As with the past 2 projects, We Energies generously agreed to be the host utility for this project.

Sponsor:

Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC)

Project:

Field Study of Negatively Sloped Keyboards in Offices

Period:

January 15, 2000 to Dec. 31, 2002

Budget:

$13,500

Summary:

This study was a follow-up to a previous OERC study to determine writs posture of office workers while they type on negatively sloped keyboards in the workplace.  The investigators measured wrist position from workers who have, on their own, selected to type on positively sloped, neutral, and negatively sloped keyboards.  Regression equations relating slope of keyboard and wrist position were developed.

Co-investigator  Guy G. Simoneau, Ph.D., PT

Sponsor:

The Arthritis Foundation

Project;

Alternative Computer Keyboards for People with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome        

Period:

January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2002

Budget:

$235,000

Summary:

The purpose of this study was to build upon the successes of NIOSH project on alternative keyboards, which ended October 31, 1996, and continue the work on developing an optiomal alternative computer keyboard for persons who are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

 Note: Guy G. Simoneau, Ph.D., PT  was the Principal Investigator.

Sponsor:

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Project:

Development of an Ergonomics Process for Overhead Distribution Line Workers in the Electric Power Industry

Period:

July 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 2001

Budget:

$170,000

Summary:

The purpose of this study was to build upon the past success of the warehouse study for Wisconsin Electric Power Co. and tailo an ergonomics process for overhead distribution line workers, who are utility workers who build and maintain power lines.  One of the outcomes of this project was an ergonomics handbook for line workers that showed how typical line workers' tasks can be changed to minimize the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses.  The title of the handbook was Ergonomics Handbook for the Electric Power Industry:  Overhead Distribution Line Workers Interventions (EPRI #1005190).  Wisconsin Electric - Wisconsin Gas (WE - WG) generously served as the host utility for this project and provided hourly and managmeent staff for the ergonomics team.

Sponsor:

Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC)

Project:

Stiffness and Damping Characteristics of Computer Keys

Period:

Stiffness and Damping Characteristics of Computer Keys

Budget:

$29,250

Summary:

The purpose of this project was to characterize the amount of force it takes to activate keys on a computer keyboard as a function of how quickly the key is pressed (velocity). In addition, the static force-displacement characteristics of the  key was investigated. key was investigated.

Co-investigator: Mark L. Nagurka, Ph.D., PE

Sponsor:

Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC)

Project:

The Effects of Sloped Computer Keyboards on Upper Extremity Kinematics and Muscle Fatigue

Period:

January 15, 1998 to June 1, 2000

Budget:

$25,000

Summary:

The purpose of this project was to determine how a sloped conventional keyboard, in particularly a keyboard sloping downward, affects the position and dynamics of the wrist and forearm. In addition, the EMG activity of the forearm muscles was recorded to estimate the muscle activity and fatigue during typing sessions.

Co-investigator: Guy G. Simoneau, Ph.D., PT

Sponsor:

Wisconsin Electric Power Co.

Project:

Develop. of an Ergonomics Process for Supply Chain of Wisconsin Electric Power Co.

Period:

September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1998

Budget:

$79,664

Summary:

The purpose was to develop and evaluate an ergonomics process for the Pewaukee Stores warehouse, which is the main distribution warehouse for all of Wisconsin Electric Corp. Marquette University led and trained an ergonomics team for 2 years, and this team still meets to date.

Sponsor:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Project:

An Ergonomic Study of Alternative Keyboard Designs (grant#1 R03 OH03184-01)

Period:

September 30, 1994 to October 31, 1996

Budget:

$72,713

Summary:

The purpose was to determine whether commercially-available alternative computer keyboard designs, such as split keyboards, have a beneficial effect on the motion patterns of the upper extremities. The finger, wrist, and forearm motion were measured from experienced secretaries typing on three alternative keyboards along with a conventional, flat keyboard. This study found that alternative keyboards placed the wrists and forearms in a more natural posture than conventional keyboards.

Sponsor:

NASA Small Business Innovation Research Award (SBIR)

Project:

Phase I: Pinch and Power Grip Gyrometer

Period:

January 1, 1996 to June 30, 1996

Budget:

$20,997 for Marquette U. ; $70,000 total budget

Summary:

Dr. Marklin and his staff teamed up with Orbital Technology Corp. (ORBITEC, Madison , WI ) to research, develop and design a device for measuring the range of motion of coupled movements of the wrist and forearm and the maximum grip and pinch strength of astronauts. In Phase I, Orbitec and Marquette U. defined system requirements, designed and built a mechanical prototype, and tested and evaluated the prototype. Phase II was not funded.

Sponsor:

National Science Foundation (NSF):  Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement

Project:

Incorporating Ergonomics Theory and Practice into Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Education

Period:

August 15, 1992 to December 31, 1994

Budget:

$25,082 awarded by NSF for electromyographic (EMG) instrumentation; $25,083 funded by Marquette University for EMG instrumentation

Summary:

EMG instrumentation was purchased to enhance the teaching of ergonomics and biomedical engineering principles and applications to undergraduate students in the Industrial Engineering Program at Marquette University.

Co-investigator: Vikram Cariapa, Ph.D., PE

Sponsor:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Project:

Development of Participatory Ergonomic Teams at Peck Foods

Period:

January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1993

Budget:

$40,000

Summary:

The purpose of this project was to assess the effectiveness of participatory ergonomic teams in a red meat-packing plant. Teams were evaluated based on, in part, how well they reduced biomechanical risk factors of MSDs. The biomechanical risk factors were wrist motion (position, velocity, and acceleration).