Identification of potential biomechanical risk factors for low back disorders during repetitive rebar lifting Available to Purchase

Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari attained his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Technology and Management (First Class Honours) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, in 2012. He worked as a Teaching/Research Assistance in KNUST from 2012 to 2013. He also received his MPhil in Building Technology and worked as a Graduate Assistant at the Department of Building Technology, KNUST-Ghana in 2015. He is currently a PhD student in the Department of Building and Real Estate at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University through the Postgraduate Studentship Award in August 2015. His research interests focus on construction management, labor safety in construction, construction ergonomics and biomechanical analysis. He is a student member of The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) and Ghana Institute of Construction (GIOC).

Professor Heng Li started his academic career from Tongji University since 1987. Li then researched and lectured at the University of Sydney, James Cook University and Monash University before joining Hong Kong Polytechnic University. During this period, Li have also worked with engineering design and construction firms and provided consultancy services to both private and government organizations in Australia, Hong Kong and China. Li has conducted many funded research projects related to the innovative application and transfer of construction information technologies, and he has published two books, more than 200 journal papers in major journals of his field and numerous conferences papers in proceedings.

Professor David John Edwards, BSc (Hons), PhD, MCMPE, FIoQ, M. HM RE (Plant Branch), is a Professor of Plant and Machinery Management at Birmingham City University and has worked in both academia and industry over a 25-year career. His research interests focus mainly upon the management of plant and machinery in business throughout industry. His work has been funded through engineering councils, government bodies and an extensive network of industrial collaborations. He has published over 250 scientific research papers in leading international journals as well as numerous conference contributions and textbooks. He is a peer referee for 50 scientific journals and Editorial Board member of various journals and conference events. In 2000, he founded the Off-highway Plant and Equipment Research Centre, which today is the largest international professional body for research in this field with over 15,000 members. While Edwards enjoys pure theoretical research work, he feels most comfortable with applied work that demonstrates immediate and tangible impact. Among his many awards, prizes and accolades two are held most dearly; namely: Recipient of the Commander’s coin, US Department of Defence (2011) for his work into hand-arm vibration; and Chief for Education Development, Ashanti Kingdom, Ghana (2015-present) for ongoing research and education conducted in collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is currently working for staff at the Pentagon, USA, on the development of standards for safety management in the defense, automotive and aerospace industries.

Erika Anneli Pärn BSc (Hons), PgCE and PgCR, graduated with a Degree in Architectural Technology and commenced an international career as a BIM Co-ordinator working in China, Finland, India and UK. During this period, she worked for Chetwood Architects and oversaw the implementation of large scale global warehouse developments and associated generative BIM models. Parn was employed as an Architectural Technology Lecturer at Birmingham City University in 2014 and commenced her PhD studies in 2016. Her PhD will use computerization and machine learning algorithms to automate decision support for data facilities management teams. To date, Parn has published her research in several academic journals (such as Automation in Construction and ASCE Management in Engineering) and has been a keynote speaker at several high profile industrial and international conference events.

Dr De-Graft Owusu-Manu is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Building Technology of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, where he attained First Class honours, he moved straight to pursue his PhD degree where he specialized in capital asset investments and financial management of construction corporations. Though De-Graft is an astute businessman, he has acted as a Mentor, Consultant, Teacher and a Researcher in a wide range of construction business and management fields, with strong interests in phases of investments, corporate strategy, entrepreneurship and portfolio management consulting. He has received several academic awards among which is the prestigious best graduate award from Ghana Institution of Surveyors in 2003 and the recent eminence award in research conferred by the KNUST. As an entrepreneur, his interest has been inclined on growing businesses and currently has planted and growing four companies at various stages of growth – namely Top Technocrats Ltd, Top Publications & Magazines Ltd, Top Business Brokers Ltd Training Innovations and Technology Transfer Institute. He has served on a number of committees and boards at both national, regional, district and community levels, where he plays influential roles. De-Graft is also a Co-Editor of International Journal of Project Planning and Finance (a leading per-reviewed journal which specializes in project management and financial management). De-Graft serves on a number Editorial Boards and Scientific Review Committees of leading international peer-reviewed. De-Graft has published a number of scientific papers in leading journals and conference proceedings and has presented several papers at international conferences in Ghana, Nigeria, the USA and the UK.

Dr Joonoh Seo is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Building and Real Estate. Dr Seo received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Seoul National University, South Korea. He also obtained his master’s degree in Industrial and Operations Engineering (specialized in Ergonomics) and his PhD degree in Civil Engineering (construction management program) from the University of Michigan, USA, in 2016. Before starting his PhD studies, he worked for five years as a cost and safety manager in building construction projects in South Korea.

Dr Arnold Yu Lok Wong is a clinician-scientist. He attained his BSc in Biology from The University of Hong Kong, and BSc in Physiotherapy (first class honor) from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. After practicing as a physiotherapist in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for several years, he was determined to pursue his career in academia. To achieve this goal, Dr Wong obtained his MPhil in Orthopaedics and Traumatology from The University of Hong Kong, and completed his PhD training from the University of Alberta, Canada. Dr Wong’s research interests focus on identifying the mechanisms that lead to and maintain spinal disorders. As the causes of spinal disorders are multifactorial, Dr Wong adopts multiple strategies (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging) to quantify the relative contributions of these factors in causing and maintaining spinal pain. These findings can improve both researchers and clinicians in understanding and treating spinal disorders. Dr Wong has received numerous academic accolades from various agencies in Hong Kong, Canada and the USA (e.g. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Golden Key International Honours Society and International Association for the Study of Pain). His research has also resulted in multiple publications in peer-reviewed, international journals.