Workplace Assessment Methods Flashcards
7 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Workplace Assessment Methods flashcards as text
Which ergonomic assessment method uses a checklist of upper-limb posture, force, and repetition to generate a numeric risk score for each task?
Answer: Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) index
The OCRA Index quantifies upper-limb disorder risk by scoring repetition, force, posture, additional factors, and recovery time across a work shift.
An ergonomist using electromyography (EMG) during a workplace assessment is primarily measuring:
Answer: Electrical activity of muscles as an indicator of exertion level
Surface EMG electrodes detect electrical signals generated by muscle fibers, allowing the ergonomist to quantify muscle activation and relative effort.
The Psychophysical approach to manual handling assessment, as developed by Snook and Ciriello, defines maximum acceptable weight based on:
Answer: Worker self-selected loads that are acceptable for a full shift without undue fatigue
The psychophysical method uses worker perception of effort to set the maximum weight or force that 75–90% of the population can perform across a full shift.
During a lighting assessment for a visual display terminal (VDT) workstation, the ergonomist should prioritize measuring:
Answer: Luminance ratio between the screen and surrounding surfaces
Luminance ratios between the VDT screen and surrounding task and background areas directly affect visual fatigue and glare discomfort.
Which component of the NIOSH Lifting Equation accounts for asymmetric trunk rotation during a lift?
Answer: Asymmetry Multiplier (AM)
The Asymmetry Multiplier (AM) penalizes lifts where the load is displaced from the worker's sagittal plane, reflecting increased spinal stress from trunk rotation.
In a push/pull assessment using a force gauge, the ergonomist should capture both initial and sustained forces because:
Answer: Initial force overcomes static friction and is typically higher than sustained force
Initial force must overcome static friction to break the load from rest and is generally greater than the sustained force needed to keep it moving at constant speed.
When assessing whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure, the primary measurement axis aligned with the spine of a seated worker is designated:
Answer: Z-axis (vertical)
For seated workers, the z-axis runs vertically through the spine and is the principal axis for whole-body vibration assessment per ISO 2631-1.