Ergonomics & Human Factors Engineering Flashcards

What is 'mental workload' and why is it important in human factors engineering?

Answer: The cognitive demand placed on an operator relative to their capacity; it affects error rates and performance

Mental workload measures how heavily a task taxes an operator's cognitive resources; both overload and underload increase errors and degrade system safety.

The OSHA General Duty Clause requires employers to:

Answer: Furnish a place of employment free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious harm

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act's General Duty Clause obligates employers to provide a workplace free from known serious hazards, including ergonomic hazards.

Which lighting measurement unit is used to describe the intensity of light falling on a surface?

Answer: Foot-candle (lux)

Foot-candles (or lux in SI) measure illuminance—the amount of light flux incident on a surface per unit area—used to specify workspace lighting levels.

In noise exposure assessment, what is the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for an 8-hour workday?

Answer: 90 dBA

OSHA's PEL for occupational noise is 90 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average; exposures above this require engineering controls or PPE.

What is a 'near miss' in the context of industrial safety and human factors?

Answer: An unplanned event that did not result in injury or damage but had the potential to do so

A near miss is an unsafe event or condition that, under slightly different circumstances, could have caused injury, illness, or property damage.

Which handle grip type generates the most grip force and is preferred for heavy power tools?

Answer: Power grip (cylindrical)

The power (cylindrical) grip wraps all fingers and the palm around an object, engaging the largest muscle groups for maximum force generation.