Ergonomic Interventions & Solutions Flashcards

A vibration-dampening glove is selected as a control for hand-arm vibration. According to the hierarchy of controls, this solution is classified as:

Answer: Personal protective equipment

Gloves are personal protective equipment (PPE), which sits at the lowest tier of the hierarchy of controls and should supplement, not replace, higher-level interventions.

A task requires workers to exert 18 lbs of push force on a cart. NIOSH guidelines suggest acceptable initial forces for pushing are closest to which value for a mixed-gender workforce?

Answer: 15 lbs initial force

Liberty Mutual / Snook tables indicate that for mixed-gender populations, acceptable initial push forces are approximately 15–18 lbs depending on frequency and distance, placing 18 lbs at or near the acceptable limit.

An ergonomist is evaluating seating for a call center. Which seat pan feature is most critical for workers with varying thigh lengths?

Answer: Seat pan depth adjustability

Adjustable seat pan depth ensures proper thigh support without popliteal pressure for workers of different leg proportions.

After installing a height-adjustable workstation, productivity drops because workers rarely use the adjustment. What is the most likely root cause and best corrective action?

Answer: Workers were not adequately trained on the benefits and mechanics of adjustment; provide training and reminders

Lack of training and organizational prompts is the most common reason adjustable furniture goes unused; targeted training and cues significantly increase utilization rates.

Which intervention most effectively reduces contact stress on the palmar surface of the hand during a gripping task?

Answer: Using a tool handle with a larger diameter and rounded, padded grip

A larger-diameter, padded, and rounded handle distributes contact forces over a greater surface area, reducing pressure concentration on palmar tissues.

A manufacturing plant wants to reduce lower back injuries from repetitive shoveling. Which intervention has the highest expected efficacy?

Answer: Redesigning the shoveling tool with a bent-handle ergonomic design and reducing load per scoop

Redesigning the tool to reduce load per scoop and maintain a more neutral lumbar posture directly addresses the biomechanical root cause and is an engineering control, the most effective tier.

When evaluating the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention post-implementation, which metric provides the most direct evidence of injury risk reduction?

Answer: Reduction in RULA or REBA scores at the redesigned workstation

Pre- and post-intervention observational assessment scores (e.g., RULA, REBA) directly quantify changes in postural and force risk factors and are the most valid measure of biomechanical risk reduction.