CEA Workplace Assessment Methods 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which observational method involves recording worker postures at fixed time intervals throughout the shift?
- Continuous time study
- Work sampling (Correct answer)
- OWAS analysis
- Critical incident technique
Correct answer: Work sampling
Work sampling involves making instantaneous observations at random or fixed intervals to estimate the proportion of time workers spend in various postures or activities.
Question 2: The REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) tool assigns a final action level. What does action level 3 indicate?
- Risk is negligible, no action needed
- Investigation and change may be needed soon
- Investigate and implement changes immediately (Correct answer)
- Halt work until hazards are corrected
Correct answer: Investigate and implement changes immediately
A REBA action level 3 (score 8–10) indicates high risk, requiring investigation and implementation of changes immediately.
Question 3: When conducting a walkthrough survey, which tool is most appropriate for documenting the physical layout and workstation dimensions?
- Dynamometer
- Tape measure or laser distance meter (Correct answer)
- Force plate
- Electrogoniometer
Correct answer: Tape measure or laser distance meter
A tape measure or laser distance meter is used during walkthrough surveys to capture workstation dimensions for ergonomic evaluation.
Question 4: In ergonomics assessment, a 'task analysis' primarily aims to:
- Measure the metabolic cost of a task
- Identify the specific demands and subtasks that make up a job (Correct answer)
- Calculate the noise exposure level during work
- Determine the maximum acceptable weight for lifting
Correct answer: Identify the specific demands and subtasks that make up a job
Task analysis systematically breaks a job into component subtasks to identify demands, sequences, and potential hazard exposures.
Question 5: Which document is typically used at the START of a formal ergonomics program assessment to triage high-risk jobs?
- NIOSH lifting equation worksheet
- Job hazard analysis (JHA) summary
- Symptom survey or discomfort survey (Correct answer)
- Anthropometric data tables
Correct answer: Symptom survey or discomfort survey
Symptom or discomfort surveys are administered early to identify departments or tasks where workers report musculoskeletal complaints, guiding prioritization.
Question 6: The Strain Index (SI) is specifically designed to assess risk of disorders affecting which body region?
- Lower back
- Neck and shoulders
- Distal upper extremity (wrist, hand, forearm) (Correct answer)
- Lower extremities (knee and ankle)
Correct answer: Distal upper extremity (wrist, hand, forearm)
The Strain Index evaluates six task variables to predict risk of distal upper extremity disorders including the wrist, hand, and forearm.
Question 7: During an ergonomics assessment, 'pinch grip force' is most accurately measured using which instrument?
- Handheld dynamometer configured for pinch (Correct answer)
- Force plate embedded in a platform
- Pressure-sensitive mat
- Load cell mounted to conveyor
Correct answer: Handheld dynamometer configured for pinch
A handheld dynamometer with a pinch attachment directly measures lateral, palmar, or tip pinch grip force in Newtons or pounds.
CEA Workplace Assessment Methods 2
Which observational method involves recording worker postures at fixed time intervals throughout the shift?