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Abstract

Exoskeletons have shown promise for reducing work-related musculoskeletal disorders and improving worker safety in construction, yet evidence on deployment in real construction environments remains fragmented. This study reviews peer-reviewed empirical research on exoskeleton use in active construction settings to examine implementation patterns, barriers, facilitators, and research gaps. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across Web of Science, Scopus Library, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they reported empirical evidence on active construction environments or realistic near-site simulations involving professional construction workers. After duplicate removal, screening, full-text eligibility assessment, and backward snowballing, 23 studies were included. Evidence is recent and limited, with most studies published after 2023. Passive back-support and upper-limb exoskeletons dominated the literature, involving small male samples and short deployment durations. Reported benefits included reduced physical strain and improved biomechanical outcomes. However, persistent barriers included PPE incompatibility, thermal discomfort, movement restrictions, task-technology misalignment, and social resistance. Methodological limitations included subjective measures, short-term testing, and near absence of female workers. Future research should prioritize demographic inclusivity, longitudinal deployment studies, site-integrated design, and continuous field monitoring.

Keywords

Exoskeleton; construction site deployment; field implementation; technology adoption; musculoskeletal disorders

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