Just past Indio is Desert Center, the place where Steve Hoff is headed this morning. As a battery electrician, his job today will be to upgrade and install a DC battery system for a telecommunications site with coworker Ben Lettman.

Two of 12 members of Southern California Edison’s battery shop based in Alhambra, the crew is responsible for installing and maintaining more than 1,400 large DC battery systems throughout the utility’s 50,000-square-mile service area.

“I am in the field 95% of the time, out of town and on the road a lot. I average about 35,000 miles each year on my truck,” said Hoff, who has worked at SCE for 38 years, 29 years at its battery shop. “I enjoy my job because there is something different every day.”

Hoff and the battery team install and repair DC battery systems at more than 900 substations and about 500 telecommunications sites, allowing locations to continue operating even if the power goes out temporarily. An average battery system has about 20 batteries, each weighing between 60-70 pounds. In total, that is about 1,400 pounds of equipment being moved around and maintained.

To limit the strain on the team members’ lower backs, SCE recently began piloting the use of exoskeletons with the group, external wearable devices that use springs to assist in lifting or in reaching tasks with less exertion.

“I will be using the exoskeleton today because I will be moving some batteries around,” said Hoff, who has been using the equipment for a few months. “I definitely see a benefit when I am moving heavy stuff around. It’s designed to alleviate the stress on the lower back.”

The exoskeletons provide about 20 to 30 pounds of resistance as the device works to support the lower back. And when the team is installing about three battery systems a week, in addition to routine maintenance work requiring lots of leaning forward movements, the equipment seems to be helping.

Various teams took part in a demo of the exoskeletons several months back at SCE’s Chino Training Facility. The groups were introduced to the equipment and got a chance to strap it on and move equipment. The battery shop is the first to use the exoskeletons in their daily work and their impact on safety improvements will be measured.

“This is the first time we are using this technology in the company,” said Daniel Jimenez, an SCE safety advisor who was instrumental in introducing exoskeletons to the utility. “These exoskeletons allow for natural movement while reducing fatigue and limiting stress from heavy lifting.

“We are collecting data now to help assess and monitor their effectiveness,” he added. “We want to protect our workers, especially their backs, and hope to see a reduction in injuries. This may be a game changer.”

Although currently being piloted by the battery shop, SCE hopes to expand the use of exoskeletons to other groups who tend to work with heavy equipment, including those working in the automotive garages, warehouses and the cable crews who install power cables.

“Through this pilot, we want to see where the right fit is in the company,” said Tyson Silva, SCE principal manager. “We hope to see safety benefits over time using this technology.”