Practice Test Geeks(CEA) Certified Ergonomics Associate Practice Test
← All CEA Flashcard Decks

Manual Material Handling 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 Manual Material Handling flashcards as text

  1. Which variable does the frequency multiplier (FM) in the NIOSH lifting equation account for?

    Answer: The number of lifts per minute and duration of lifting over the shift

    The frequency multiplier reduces the RWL as lifts per minute and total lifting duration increase, reflecting cumulative fatigue and tissue recovery limits.

  2. OSHA's General Industry guidelines recommend that, as a rule of thumb, workers should not manually lift loads exceeding what weight without a hazard assessment?

    Answer: 50 lbs

    OSHA commonly cites 50 lbs as the threshold triggering a formal ergonomic assessment for manual lifting tasks.

  3. In ergonomics, the 'power zone' for manual lifting is best described as:

    Answer: The zone between mid-thigh and mid-chest at close horizontal reach

    The power zone (mid-thigh to mid-chest, close to the body) minimizes lumbar moment arm and maximizes muscular mechanical advantage.

  4. Which of the following best describes the concept of cumulative trauma in manual material handling?

    Answer: Repeated low-level exposures over time that exceed tissue repair capacity

    Cumulative trauma results from repeated sub-maximal loads that collectively exceed the body's ability to repair micro-damage between exposures.

  5. A materials handler reports low back pain that worsens at the end of the shift and improves with rest. This pattern most suggests:

    Answer: Work-related cumulative musculoskeletal strain

    Pain that builds through a work shift and resolves with rest is a classic presentation of occupational cumulative musculoskeletal strain from MMH tasks.

  6. Which ergonomic intervention would MOST effectively reduce low-back disorder risk for workers who unload boxes from the floor of a truck trailer?

    Answer: Install a powered roller conveyor at dock height to eliminate floor-level lifting

    A powered conveyor at dock height eliminates floor-level lifting entirely, removing the highest-risk posture and replacing it with engineering controls.

  7. When calculating the NIOSH RWL for a two-handed symmetrical lift, the load constant (LC) is:

    Answer: 23 kg (51 lbs)

    The NIOSH load constant (LC) is 23 kg (approximately 51 lbs), representing the maximum RWL under ideal lifting conditions.