CEA CEA Ergonomics in Healthcare & Special Populations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which patient handling task poses the HIGHEST risk of low back injury for healthcare workers?
- Bed-to-wheelchair lateral transfers (Correct answer)
- Taking blood pressure
- Adjusting bed height
- Charting at a nursing station
Correct answer: Bed-to-wheelchair lateral transfers
Lateral patient transfers require lifting and repositioning a dependent patient, generating high spinal compressive and shear forces on the caregiver.
Question 2: The Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) approach recommends which primary intervention to reduce caregiver injuries?
- Training nurses in proper body mechanics
- Eliminating manual lifts through mechanical lift equipment and assistive devices (Correct answer)
- Requiring nurses to lift no more than 35 lb
- Rotating staff to different units more frequently
Correct answer: Eliminating manual lifts through mechanical lift equipment and assistive devices
SPHM prioritizes engineering controls (ceiling lifts, transfer boards, sit-to-stand aids) over reliance on body mechanics training alone.
Question 3: Which anthropometric consideration is MOST critical when designing workstations for a diverse healthcare team that includes both male and female workers?
- Using average-sized mannequins for design
- Designing for the 5th–95th percentile range with adjustability (Correct answer)
- Optimizing exclusively for the 50th percentile
- Designing only for the largest users
Correct answer: Designing for the 5th–95th percentile range with adjustability
Adjustable workstations that accommodate the 5th–95th percentile range ensure both small and large users can work without awkward postures.
Question 4: Prolonged standing on hard floors in surgical or assembly settings is MOST effectively mitigated by which intervention?
- Requiring scheduled sitting breaks every hour
- Anti-fatigue mats and footwear with cushioned insoles (Correct answer)
- Raising the floor surface height
- Switching to a stool with no back support
Correct answer: Anti-fatigue mats and footwear with cushioned insoles
Anti-fatigue mats reduce ground reaction force and promote micro-movements in leg muscles, decreasing discomfort and fatigue during prolonged standing.
Question 5: Needle stick injuries in healthcare are BEST prevented through which ergonomic/engineering control?
- Recapping needles with two hands
- Safety-engineered sharps devices with passive or one-handed activation (Correct answer)
- Verbal reminders to be careful
- Wearing double gloves at all times
Correct answer: Safety-engineered sharps devices with passive or one-handed activation
Safety-engineered devices (retractable needles, needleless systems) are the highest-order control for preventing needle stick injuries.
Question 6: When ergonomically evaluating a pharmacy compounding workstation, which risk factor is MOST specific to this environment?
- Prolonged sitting
- Sustained pinch grip and fine motor repetition while handling small vials (Correct answer)
- Exposure to whole-body vibration
- Heavy manual material handling over 50 lb
Correct answer: Sustained pinch grip and fine motor repetition while handling small vials
Compounding pharmacists perform highly repetitive fine manipulation of small containers under magnification, creating upper extremity strain.
CEA CEA Ergonomics in Healthcare & Special Populations 1
Which patient handling task poses the HIGHEST risk of low back injury for healthcare workers?