Ergonomic Design & Intervention Strategies Flashcards
7 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ergonomic Design & Intervention Strategies flashcards as text
Which factor does the REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) tool evaluate that RULA does not specifically include?
Answer: Load/force magnitude as a separate score multiplier
REBA includes a separate load/force score that acts as a multiplier, making it more sensitive to whole-body tasks involving loads.
A worker uses a vibrating grinder for 4 hours per day. To reduce hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure, the most effective engineering control would be to:
Answer: Replace the tool with a lower-vibration model meeting the same output
Substituting a lower-vibration tool addresses the source of exposure, making it a more effective control than gloves or administrative measures.
During a standing workstation design, elbow height is used as a reference point. For precision assembly work, the work surface should be positioned:
Answer: At elbow height or slightly above
Precision tasks benefit from a work surface at or slightly above elbow height to reduce neck flexion and support fine motor control.
What is the primary limitation of using injury and illness records (OSHA 300 logs) as the sole ergonomic needs assessment tool?
Answer: They only capture reported injuries, missing unreported symptoms and near-misses
Injury records reflect past harm rather than current risk, and underreporting means many early-stage MSD symptoms go unrecorded.
When designing for the 5th–95th percentile of the target user population, which body dimension guideline applies to clearance (space) dimensions?
Answer: Design for the 95th percentile so the largest user is accommodated
Clearance dimensions must accommodate the largest users (95th percentile) so that everyone—including larger individuals—can fit comfortably.
A cost-benefit analysis for an ergonomic intervention should primarily include which type of indirect cost?
Answer: Lost productivity, training replacements, and administrative burden of injury management
Indirect costs—including productivity loss, replacement training, and administrative time—often far exceed direct medical costs in MSD-related injuries.
Which ergonomic principle does providing a forearm support (wrist rest) at a keyboard station primarily address?
Answer: Offloading static muscle loading in the forearm and shoulder during pauses
Forearm/wrist rests are intended for use during pauses—not active typing—to reduce static shoulder and forearm muscle loading.