CDMS Ergonomics, Workplace Safety, and Injury Prevention 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of workplace ergonomics in disability management?
- Increasing production speed at the expense of worker comfort
- Fitting the job to the worker to reduce physical strain and prevent musculoskeletal injuries (Correct answer)
- Meeting OSHA inspection requirements
- Reducing the cost of workers' compensation insurance premiums only
Correct answer: Fitting the job to the worker to reduce physical strain and prevent musculoskeletal injuries
Ergonomics adapts work tasks, tools, and environments to human physical and cognitive capabilities to reduce injury risk and enhance performance.
Question 2: Which category of musculoskeletal disorders is most commonly associated with repetitive work tasks?
- Traumatic fractures
- Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) or repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) (Correct answer)
- Acute nerve compression injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Correct answer: Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) or repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)
CTDs/RSIs develop from repeated microtrauma to muscles, tendons, and nerves over time from repetitive motions, forceful exertions, and awkward postures.
Question 3: Which ergonomic risk factor involves working with body parts held in non-neutral positions?
- Force
- Repetition
- Awkward posture (Correct answer)
- Contact stress
Correct answer: Awkward posture
Awkward posture refers to working with joints in bent, twisted, or extended positions that increase muscle and tendon strain.
Question 4: What is a 'worksite analysis' in the context of ergonomics?
- A productivity study to measure output rates
- A systematic evaluation of workplace tasks and conditions to identify ergonomic risk factors (Correct answer)
- An OSHA compliance audit for recordkeeping requirements
- A financial analysis of the cost of workplace injuries
Correct answer: A systematic evaluation of workplace tasks and conditions to identify ergonomic risk factors
A worksite analysis assesses job tasks, tools, workstations, and work methods to identify ergonomic hazards and prioritize intervention.
Question 5: Which administrative control reduces exposure to ergonomic risk factors by changing work schedules?
- Engineering controls such as tool redesign
- Job rotation to distribute physical load across different muscle groups (Correct answer)
- Personal protective equipment
- Employee training only
Correct answer: Job rotation to distribute physical load across different muscle groups
Job rotation is an administrative control that varies which muscle groups are stressed by rotating workers through tasks with different physical demands.
Question 6: What does the NIOSH Lifting Equation calculate?
- Maximum safe pushing and pulling forces for cart operations
- A recommended weight limit (RWL) and lifting index for two-handed manual lifting tasks (Correct answer)
- The acceptable noise exposure level for industrial workers
- The minimum recovery time needed between repetitive hand tasks
Correct answer: A recommended weight limit (RWL) and lifting index for two-handed manual lifting tasks
The NIOSH Lifting Equation calculates a recommended weight limit and lifting index to assess the risk of low back injury from manual lifting.
CDMS Ergonomics, Workplace Safety, and Injury Prevention 1
What is the primary goal of workplace ergonomics in disability management?