NeoSomaTech
Which exoskeleton to choose for a construction site depending on the trade?
The answer in detail
Construction combines risky postures, but they vary a lot from one trade to another: the tiler works on the floor, the painter with arms raised, the electrician with head and arms up. An exoskeleton effective for one may hinder another.
The passive leaf-spring models of the Hapo range have no battery or electronics: they therefore suit site conditions a priori, with dust and occasional damp. They never replace personal protective equipment. A site often brings several trades together in the same day: that is why some companies equip several models by team rather than a single reference.
What the pages say
| Trade | Dominant posture | Catalog model |
|---|---|---|
| Tiler, plumber | on the floor, crouching or kneeling | Hapo SD (2,158.80 euros) |
| Mason, structural work | bent forward, carrying loads | Hapo HD (1,282.80 euros) |
| Painter, plasterer | arms raised | Hapo UP (4,200 euros) |
| Electrician | arms in front and raised | Hapo FRONT (2,280 euros) or UP |
| Mechanic under vehicle | head raised continuously | Hapo NECK (640.80 euros) |
| Background low back pain | all trades | Hapo BR (3,595.20 euros) |
Prices, weights and uses come from our product pages. All are guaranteed two years by the manufacturer.
Step-by-step instructions
- List the postures of each trade present on the site.
- First deal with what can be dealt with collectively: working height, handling aids, alternating tasks.
- Choose one model per trade, not a single model for the team.
- Check compatibility with the fall-arrest harness with the safety coordinator before use at height.
- Test over a few days, with the occupational physician, then review with the team.
Limits and precautions
- An exoskeleton replaces neither helmet, safety shoes nor fall-arrest harness.
- INRS recalls that it is not personal protective equipment.
- It can shift constraints to other parts of the body: test it in situ.
- This is not medical advice: if you have pain, consult the occupational physician.
For the general framework, read our article on the exoskeleton for construction and our question on arms-overhead work.
Key takeaways
On a construction site, an exoskeleton is chosen by trade: SD for the floor, HD for structural work, UP or FRONT for the arms, NECK for head-up work, BR for background low back pain. All are passive with no battery. Check compatibility with the fall-arrest harness, test with the occupational physician and remember that no exoskeleton replaces personal protective equipment. Clean the textile regularly and check the straps and springs according to the manual.