SpatialCortex at the CIEHF Ergonomics & Human Factors Conference 2026
- Apr 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 14
SpatialCortex attended the CIEHF Ergonomics & Human Factors Conference 2026, held 27th–29th April at the East Midlands Conference Centre, University of Nottingham. This is one of the UK's leading annual events for ergonomics and human factors professionals, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and industry leaders.
Presented Paper: Understanding and Mitigating MSD Risks in Frontline Rail Staff
Our research paper, "Understanding and Mitigating MSD Risks Faced by Frontline Rail Staff Using Wearable Technology", was presented at CIEHF 2026.
This paper presented findings from SpatialCortex's collaboration with Transport for Wales (TFW), a Welsh Government-owned company responsible for managing and developing an integrated, sustainable transport network across Wales. It demonstrates how TFW has used quantitative insights from MOVA Risk Assessments — conducted in both real operational and training environments — to proactively identify and mitigate musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks among frontline rail workers. The paper was successfully presented by, Simon Carpenter, Risk & Standards Manager, Transport for Wales.
The paper can be accessed here, Understanding and mitigating MSD risks faced by frontline rail-staff using wearable technology | CIEHF Publications
A case study document is currently being prepared in colloboration with TFW on the impact of the changes and MSD absence reduction and will be published in future.
How Wearable Technology Is Changing MSD Risk Assessment in the Rail Industry
Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most prevalent and costly occupational health challenges facing the rail sector. Traditional risk assessment methods rely heavily on observation and self-reporting, which can miss the full picture of physical exposure.
SpatialCortex's MOVA platform takes a different approach. MOVA is a wearable biomechanical risk assessment solution that captures real-time data on workers' physical movements and postures. By delivering objective, quantitative insights into MSD risk exposure, MOVA enables safety and health teams to:
Understand the true physical demands placed on workers in their specific roles.
Anticipate high-risk tasks and conditions before injuries occur.
Mitigate MSD risks through targeted, evidence-based interventions.
The value of this approach lies in its use of leading, rather than lagging, indicators — enabling safety teams to manage MSD risk proactively, ahead of incidents occurring, rather than relying on retrospective analysis after injuries are reported.
The collaboration with Transport for Wales demonstrates how wearable ergonomics technology can be deployed at scale in a complex operational environment. This provides rail operators with the data they need to protect their workforce and reduce injury-related costs.
Staff Engagement and Acceptance
A key theme raised during the conference Q&A was staff acceptance of wearable technology in operational settings. In the case of Transport for Wales, engagement was positive when the technology was introduced through consultation with staff and communicated with a clear focus on outcomes and staff benefit, rather than being framed as a monitoring exercise.
The Importance of Proactive MSD Prevention
Reactive approaches to MSD management — responding once an injury has already occurred — carry a significant cost, both to staff wellbeing and to operational continuity. Identifying risk before it results in injury allows organisations to intervene at the task level, whether through changes to technique, equipment, or work design.
MOVA supports this by quantifying exposure at the level of individual roles and tasks, rather than relying on generic, industry-wide risk profiles. This allows organisations like Transport for Wales to target interventions where they are most needed, based on the specific physical demands faced by different frontline roles.
Also Featured at EHF 2026
MOVA was also referenced during the Physical Ergonomics Workshop at the conference, presented by Matt Birtles of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
About SpatialCortex
SpatialCortex is a technology company specialising in biomechanical risk assessment and workplace injury prevention. Through MOVA, our wearable solution, we deliver quantitative insights into physical risk exposure in the workplace. By enabling organisations to proactively understand, anticipate, and mitigate MSD risks, SpatialCortex supports improvements in workforce safety, health, and operational performance. SpatialCortex | Musculoskeletal Disorders MSDs prevention and reduction
About MOVA
MOVA is SpatialCortex's wearable MSD risk assessment platform. It uses body-worn sensors to collect biomechanical movement data in real time, generating actionable risk scores and reports for health and safety professionals. MOVA has been deployed in industries including rail, logistics, manufacturing, and construction. Manual Handling | SpatialCortex
About Transport for Wales (TFW)
Transport for Wales is a Welsh Government-owned company responsible for managing, developing, and integrating a sustainable transport network across Wales. TFW is committed to improving safety and wellbeing across its workforce through evidence-based, data-driven approaches. https://tfw.wales/
About the CIEHF
The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) is the UK's professional body for ergonomics and human factors. CIEHF promotes the application of ergonomics research and practice to make work, life, and society safer, more comfortable, and more productive. Its annual conference is a key forum for sharing research and innovation in the field. Homepage | CIEHF
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MOVA by SpatialCortex?
MOVA is a wearable biomechanical risk assessment platform developed by SpatialCortex. It captures real-time movement data to quantify MSD risk exposure in workplace environments, enabling proactive injury prevention.
How is wearable technology being used to prevent MSDs in rail workers?
SpatialCortex collaborated with Transport for Wales to deploy MOVA wearable devices for real-time MSD risk assessment among frontline rail staff. The data collected in both operational and training environments allows safety teams to identify high-risk tasks and intervene before injuries occur.
What is the CIEHF Ergonomics & Human Factors Conference?
The CIEHF Conference is the UK's leading annual event for ergonomics and human factors professionals. The 2026 conference took place 27th–29th April at the East Midlands Conference Centre, University of Nottingham.
What are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace?
Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries or conditions affecting muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves — typically caused by repetitive movements, awkward postures, or heavy physical demands. They are one of the leading causes of workplace absence and long-term ill health in industries such as rail, logistics, and manufacturing.
