CEA CEA Ergonomics in Healthcare & Special Populations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which accommodation is MOST appropriate under ADA ergonomic principles for a worker with low vision in an office setting?
- Reducing ambient lighting to avoid eye strain
- Providing adjustable screen magnification software and high-contrast display settings (Correct answer)
- Moving the worker to a private office only
- Eliminating all computer tasks from the job description
Correct answer: Providing adjustable screen magnification software and high-contrast display settings
Screen magnification software and high-contrast display settings are reasonable accommodations that allow a worker with low vision to perform computer-based tasks.
Question 2: An ergonomist is assessing a workstation for a pregnant worker in her third trimester. Which adjustment is MOST important?
- Raising the keyboard to shoulder height
- Providing a seat with lumbar support and footrest to accommodate postural changes (Correct answer)
- Requiring standing-only work to reduce abdominal compression
- Reducing monitor brightness to the minimum setting
Correct answer: Providing a seat with lumbar support and footrest to accommodate postural changes
Third-trimester postural changes shift the center of gravity and increase lumbar lordosis, making lumbar support and foot elevation critical for comfort.
Question 3: In designing controls for older workers (55+), which age-related change has the GREATEST ergonomic implication for control layout?
- Decreased height
- Reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and slower accommodation (Correct answer)
- Increased grip strength
- Faster reaction time
Correct answer: Reduced visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and slower accommodation
Age-related vision decline means controls and displays must have larger text, higher contrast, and reduced glare to remain legible.
Question 4: Which ergonomic intervention is MOST effective at reducing the risk of falls in the elderly care population?
- Removing all floor mats to eliminate trip hazards
- Installing grab bars, improving lighting, and removing clutter from pathways (Correct answer)
- Requiring residents to use wheelchairs at all times
- Lowering all furniture to floor level
Correct answer: Installing grab bars, improving lighting, and removing clutter from pathways
A multifactorial approach combining environmental modifications (grab bars, lighting, clear pathways) is the evidence-based strategy for fall prevention.
Question 5: For a worker with a unilateral upper extremity amputation, which ergonomic principle guides assistive technology selection?
- Matching the device to the worker's remaining functional capacity and specific task demands (Correct answer)
- Requiring the worker to use the contralateral limb exclusively without aids
- Designing the workstation for two-handed use only
- Assigning only sedentary tasks to the worker
Correct answer: Matching the device to the worker's remaining functional capacity and specific task demands
Ergonomic accommodation must be tailored to the individual's remaining capabilities and the specific functional demands of their tasks.
Question 6: Surgical team members wearing lead aprons for radiation protection commonly develop which musculoskeletal problem?
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Lower back and neck pain from sustained postural loading under apron weight (Correct answer)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
Correct answer: Lower back and neck pain from sustained postural loading under apron weight
Lead aprons weighing 7–15 lb worn for prolonged procedures significantly load the lumbar spine and cervical spine, causing chronic pain.
CEA CEA Ergonomics in Healthcare & Special Populations 2
Which accommodation is MOST appropriate under ADA ergonomic principles for a worker with low vision in an office setting?