CPE Ergonomic Interventions & Solutions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A worker reports discomfort when using a mouse for extended periods. Which intervention should be evaluated FIRST before purchasing new equipment?
- Adjust monitor height and keyboard tray position to optimize arm posture (Correct answer)
- Replace the standard mouse with a vertical mouse immediately
- Order a wrist rest for the mouse pad
- Recommend the worker take more frequent breaks
Correct answer: Adjust monitor height and keyboard tray position to optimize arm posture
Workstation adjustments to achieve neutral posture should always be assessed before introducing new equipment, as poor positioning often drives mouse-related discomfort.
Question 2: Which tool is most appropriate for quantifying force requirements during a manual assembly task to support an ergonomic intervention decision?
- Goniometer
- Pinch gauge or force gauge (Correct answer)
- Inclinometer
- Accelerometer
Correct answer: Pinch gauge or force gauge
A pinch gauge or force gauge directly measures grip and pinch forces, providing objective data needed to evaluate hand force demands and justify interventions.
Question 3: A standing workstation is being introduced to reduce sedentary risk. What is the recommended standing-to-sitting ratio for most office workers?
- 100% standing throughout the shift
- Stand for 30 minutes per hour, sit for 30 minutes per hour (Correct answer)
- Stand for 15 minutes every 2 hours
- Sit all day but use a footrest
Correct answer: Stand for 30 minutes per hour, sit for 30 minutes per hour
Current evidence recommends alternating postures with roughly equal standing and sitting time (approximately 1:1 ratio) to balance musculoskeletal and cardiovascular benefits.
Question 4: When selecting lift-assist equipment for a warehouse task, which factor is LEAST relevant to the ergonomic decision?
- Weight and size of the load
- Frequency and duration of lifting
- Color preferences of the workers (Correct answer)
- Vertical and horizontal reach distances
Correct answer: Color preferences of the workers
Aesthetic preferences such as color are not ergonomic variables; load characteristics, frequency, and biomechanical reach distances directly determine injury risk and equipment selection.
Question 5: A packaging line produces cumulative trauma because workers must reach across a 24-inch wide conveyor. The most effective engineering control would be to:
- Provide anti-fatigue matting along the conveyor
- Narrow the conveyor width to keep reach within 16 inches (Correct answer)
- Rotate workers to different stations every 2 hours
- Train workers on proper reaching technique
Correct answer: Narrow the conveyor width to keep reach within 16 inches
Reducing conveyor width to bring objects within a comfortable reach zone eliminates the source of the hazard, making it the most effective engineering control.
Question 6: A CPE recommends tilting a work surface 15° toward the worker for a precision assembly task. The PRIMARY ergonomic benefit of this intervention is:
- Reducing wrist extension and neck flexion by bringing the work plane closer to a neutral line of sight (Correct answer)
- Increasing the available workspace surface area
- Preventing tools from rolling off the bench
- Reducing glare from overhead lighting
Correct answer: Reducing wrist extension and neck flexion by bringing the work plane closer to a neutral line of sight
An angled work surface brings fine work into a better visual and postural alignment, reducing the neck flexion and wrist deviation required to see and manipulate parts.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'participatory ergonomics' approach to implementing interventions?
- A CPE designs all solutions independently and presents them to management for approval
- Workers, supervisors, and ergonomists collaborate to identify problems and develop solutions (Correct answer)
- Management selects equipment from a vendor catalog without worker input
- An ergonomist conducts assessments only after injury reports are filed
Correct answer: Workers, supervisors, and ergonomists collaborate to identify problems and develop solutions
Participatory ergonomics involves workers and supervisors as active partners in the problem-solving process, improving solution quality, acceptance, and sustainability.
CPE Ergonomic Interventions & Solutions 2
A worker reports discomfort when using a mouse for extended periods.
Which intervention should be evaluated FIRST before purchasing new equipment?