Core Knowledge Areas Flashcards
7 cards from real AEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Core Knowledge Areas flashcards as text
When calculating the NIOSH Recommended Weight Limit (RWL), the Load Constant (LC) of 51 lbs represents:
Answer: The weight that nearly all healthy adults can lift under ideal conditions without spinal injury risk
The 51-lb LC is the maximum recommended load under ideal lifting conditions (close, waist-height, symmetric, infrequent lift), derived to protect most healthy workers.
An ergonomist uses an accelerometer to measure hand-arm vibration. The result is expressed as an 8-hour energy-equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration (A(8)). What standard provides the US exposure action value and limit value guidance?
Answer: ANSI S2.70 and ISO 5349-1
ISO 5349-1 defines the method for measuring and evaluating hand-arm vibration exposure, including the frequency-weighted A(8) metric widely referenced in US guidelines.
A call center ergonomist recommends a headset instead of a handset for customer service representatives. Which ergonomic risk factor does this primarily address?
Answer: Static shoulder elevation and lateral neck flexion from cradling the handset
Cradling a handset between the ear and shoulder forces prolonged lateral neck flexion and shoulder elevation, which headsets eliminate by freeing both hands.
In office ergonomics, what is the recommended distance between the monitor screen and the user's eyes for standard office work?
Answer: 18–30 inches (46–76 cm)
A viewing distance of 18–30 inches (approximately arm's length) is recommended to reduce eye strain and support a neutral head posture.
Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'coupling' in the context of manual materials handling?
Answer: The quality of the grip between the worker's hands and the object being handled
In the NIOSH equation, coupling refers to how well a worker can grip the load; good coupling (handles, cut-outs) reduces required grip force and spinal loading.
A worker reports tingling and numbness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, worsening at night. Which musculoskeletal disorder does this pattern MOST suggest?
Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve compression at the wrist)
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes median nerve compression, producing paresthesia in the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of the ring finger, often worse at night.
What does the Strain Index (SI) tool primarily evaluate?
Answer: Risk of distal upper-extremity disorders from job task exposures
The Strain Index scores six task variables (intensity of exertion, duration, frequency, posture, speed, task duration/day) to estimate risk of distal upper-extremity disorders.