There’s no doubt that working on a construction site is hard work. Between lifting and carrying heavy materials, to using tools in overhead and other awkward positions, the barrier of entry to this industry can be a daunting task. By many accounts, this barrier is greatly contributing to the labor shortage.

In addition to adding to the incoming labor shortage, all of that lifting takes a major toll on a human’s body over the course of 30 years. This wear and tear has not only knocked many workers out of the trades prematurely, it’s also contributed to many chronic injuries, like back and knee pain.

Now, you might say…”if someone needs this type of suit, they don’t belong in the industry,” because, believe it or not, there are people out there who want nothing more than for the people after them to suffer just as much as they did. To that, I say: this industry isn’t a frat house and adults shouldn’t have to be hazed to fit in.

I’ve been following exoskeletons for a few years now and, in the fairly recent past, a few more players have emerged in the field. If you aren’t familiar with exoskeletons, they are an externally worn mechanical device that allows the wearer to lift more without exerting more energy.

Exoskeletons have been in development for years in the military and medical fields, but recent attention has been paid to the construction and automotive industries. There really are a ton of uses for these types of products, so I wanted to highlight 4 companies that are developing exoskeletons with construction in mind: Ekso Bionics, Fraco, Levitate Technologies, and RB3D.

I’m admittedly the most familiar with the exoskeletons from Ekso Bionics, as they are one of the early developers for exoskeletons in not only the military and medical, but construction specific tasks, as well. A little over a year ago, the company released a lighter weight, upperbody vest that is made with overhead work tasks in mind.

The 9.5 pound EksoVest provides up to 15 pounds of lift assistance per arm without the need for external an external power source. With its minimal weight and small size, it’s a very unobtrusive way to put less wear and tear on the body while also increasing productivity while overhead drilling and chipping, or running refrigeration and plumbing lines.

EksoVest retails for $6,995. Check out the video below to see it in action: