NEBOSH Musculoskeletal Hazards 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the acronym TILE stand for in manual handling risk assessment?
- Task, Individual, Load, Environment (Correct answer)
- Training, Inspection, Lifting, Equipment
- Technique, Injury, Load, Ergonomics
- Task, Inspection, Leverage, Environment
Correct answer: Task, Individual, Load, Environment
TILE is the standard mnemonic used in manual handling assessments under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. It covers the four key factors: the Task being performed, the Individual doing it, the Load being handled, and the Environment in which it takes place.
Question 2: Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, what is the employer's FIRST duty regarding manual handling?
- Provide mechanical aids for all lifting tasks
- Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable (Correct answer)
- Train all employees in correct lifting techniques
- Carry out a TILE assessment on every task
Correct answer: Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable
The hierarchy of control in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 places avoidance first. Employers must avoid hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable before moving to assessment and risk reduction measures.
Question 3: Which of the following is a key requirement of the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992?
- All DSE users must work no more than 4 hours per day
- Employers must provide eye tests on request for defined DSE users (Correct answer)
- Workstations must be replaced every 5 years
- DSE users are entitled to a 15-minute break every hour by law
Correct answer: Employers must provide eye tests on request for defined DSE users
The DSE Regulations 1992 require employers to provide eye and eyesight tests on request to employees who are defined users of display screen equipment. If the test shows that corrective appliances are needed specifically for DSE work, the employer must also fund them.
Question 4: What type of injury is De Quervain's tenosynovitis classified as?
- A lower back disorder from manual handling
- An upper limb disorder from repetitive wrist movements (Correct answer)
- A respiratory condition from dust exposure
- A vibration-related condition from power tools
Correct answer: An upper limb disorder from repetitive wrist movements
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is an upper limb disorder (ULD) affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. It is caused by repetitive or forceful wrist movements and is one of several work-related upper limb disorders recognised in occupational health.
Question 5: When conducting a workstation assessment under the DSE Regulations, which of the following should be evaluated?
- Only the monitor position and keyboard layout
- The complete workstation including screen, furniture, environment and software (Correct answer)
- Only the chair height and desk dimensions
- Only lighting levels and screen glare
Correct answer: The complete workstation including screen, furniture, environment and software
A DSE workstation assessment must be holistic, covering the display screen itself, keyboard, desk, chair, lighting, reflections, noise, heat, humidity, and even software usability. The Schedule to the DSE Regulations sets out the minimum requirements for workstations.
Question 6: Which ergonomic principle helps reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) in a workplace?
- Increasing the speed of repetitive tasks to finish sooner
- Introducing job rotation and variation of tasks (Correct answer)
- Requiring workers to use their dominant hand exclusively
- Reducing rest breaks to maintain workflow
Correct answer: Introducing job rotation and variation of tasks
Job rotation and task variation are core ergonomic principles for preventing RSI. By varying the physical demands on the body, different muscle groups are used and no single group is subjected to prolonged repetitive loading, reducing the cumulative strain that causes RSI.
NEBOSH Musculoskeletal Hazards 1
What does the acronym TILE stand for in manual handling risk assessment?