CEA Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CEA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📚 CEA Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample CEA Questions & Answers
1. When validating a workplace ergonomics intervention, the MOST objective outcome measure for upper-extremity disorder risk reduction is:
Comparing validated observational tool scores (e.g., RULA, REBA) before and after an intervention provides an objective, quantified measure of postural risk change.
2. The CREAM (Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method) approach to human reliability analysis differs from THERP primarily because CREAM:
CREAM centers on the cognitive context — factors like crew collaboration, interface quality, and time pressure — that shape reliability, whereas THERP decomposes tasks into behavioral steps with HEP tables.
3. Which variable does the frequency multiplier (FM) in the NIOSH lifting equation account for?
The frequency multiplier reduces the RWL as lifts per minute and total lifting duration increase, reflecting cumulative fatigue and tissue recovery limits.
4. When evaluating a push/pull task using the Liberty Mutual Psychophysical Tables, the primary variable affecting acceptable force limits is:
The Liberty Mutual tables account for frequency of exertion, distance traveled, and the height at which force is applied to determine acceptable limits.
5. Which keyboard design feature MOST benefits users who are susceptible to wrist extension injuries?
Negative tilt positions the keyboard so wrists remain flat or in slight flexion rather than extension, reducing carpal tunnel pressure during typing.
6. What documentation practice is considered essential in Industrial Ergonomics within the Certified Ergonomics Associate field?
Real-time or near-real-time documentation in Industrial Ergonomics ensures accuracy, provides a contemporaneous record, and is considered the gold standard for professional accountability and legal defensibility.