AEP Practice and Application 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A computer workstation assessment reveals a user's monitor is positioned 18 inches away with the top of the screen at eye level. What adjustment is most appropriate?
- Lower the monitor so the top is 2–3 inches below eye level (Correct answer)
- Raise the monitor to place the center at eye level
- Increase viewing distance to 30 inches without other changes
- Tilt the monitor backward 30 degrees to reduce glare
Correct answer: Lower the monitor so the top is 2–3 inches below eye level
The top of the monitor should be at or slightly below eye level to prevent neck extension.
Question 2: When conducting a manual materials handling (MMH) assessment using the NIOSH Lifting Equation, a Recommended Weight Limit (RWL) of 15 lbs is calculated but the actual lift is 30 lbs. What does a Lifting Index (LI) of 2.0 indicate?
- The task is safe for most workers
- The task poses a significant risk and redesign is warranted (Correct answer)
- The task requires only administrative controls
- The task is marginal and no action is needed
Correct answer: The task poses a significant risk and redesign is warranted
An LI greater than 1.0 indicates increased risk of low back injury, and an LI of 2.0 signals significant musculoskeletal risk requiring engineering controls.
Question 3: An ergonomist is evaluating a repetitive assembly task where workers flex their wrists more than 45 degrees repeatedly. Which intervention is the MOST direct engineering control?
- Rotate workers to different tasks every 2 hours
- Redesign the tool handle to maintain a neutral wrist posture (Correct answer)
- Provide wrist splints to workers
- Train workers on proper wrist positioning
Correct answer: Redesign the tool handle to maintain a neutral wrist posture
Redesigning the tool to keep the wrist neutral is an engineering control that eliminates the hazard at the source.
Question 4: A job demands analysis for a firefighter role must include physical demands that are:
- Based on average worker performance across all departments
- Derived from critical tasks essential to the job regardless of frequency (Correct answer)
- Limited to tasks performed more than 50% of the time
- Determined solely by union contract requirements
Correct answer: Derived from critical tasks essential to the job regardless of frequency
Physical demands in a job demands analysis must reflect the critical, essential functions of the role, not just frequent tasks.
Question 5: During a participatory ergonomics intervention, workers consistently identify awkward reaching as the main problem but management prioritizes pace. What is the ergonomist's best course of action?
- Defer entirely to management since they control resources
- Advocate for worker-identified hazards using objective risk assessment data (Correct answer)
- Dismiss worker input and focus on productivity metrics
- Implement only low-cost solutions that satisfy neither group
Correct answer: Advocate for worker-identified hazards using objective risk assessment data
Ergonomists should use objective data to substantiate worker-identified hazards and align solutions with both safety and organizational goals.
Question 6: A standing workstation is introduced to reduce sedentary time. After two weeks, workers report lower-back and leg fatigue. What is the FIRST corrective step?
- Remove the standing stations and revert to seated work
- Provide anti-fatigue mats and footrests and encourage posture variation (Correct answer)
- Require workers to stand for no more than 30 minutes per shift
- Issue compression stockings as personal protective equipment
Correct answer: Provide anti-fatigue mats and footrests and encourage posture variation
Anti-fatigue mats, footrests, and posture variation are front-line engineering and administrative controls for standing fatigue.
Question 7: When applying the Strain Index (SI) to evaluate an upper-extremity task, which factor is NOT one of the six task variables assessed?
- Intensity of exertion
- Duration of exertion per cycle
- Ambient temperature of the workstation (Correct answer)
- Speed of work
Correct answer: Ambient temperature of the workstation
The Strain Index uses intensity, duration, efforts per minute, hand/wrist posture, speed of work, and duration per day — ambient temperature is not included.
AEP Practice and Application 2
A computer workstation assessment reveals a user's monitor is positioned 18 inches away with the top of the screen at eye level.
What adjustment is most appropriate?