CIEE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CIEE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which parameter determines the Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for chemical mixtures in relation to ergonomic heat stress assessments? → Metabolic heat production increases absorption rate of skin-permeable chemicals
2. How can workstations be adapted for ergonomic improvement? → Adjust seating, desk, and monitor
3. When validating a physical demands analysis against EEOC guidelines, the evaluator must ensure that documented demands are: → Based on objective, observable job requirements rather than general or assumed conditions
4. When calculating the return on investment (ROI) for an ergonomic program, the correct formula is: → ROI = ((Net Benefits − Program Costs) / Program Costs) × 100
5. A discount rate is applied in ergonomic CBA primarily to: → Reflect the time value of money when comparing future benefits to present costs
6. An ergonomist is analyzing a task where the worker must twist the trunk 45° while lifting. In the NIOSH Revised Lifting Equation, this is addressed by the: → Asymmetry Multiplier (AM)
7. Which approach BEST supports a durable return to work for a nurse aide with a rotator cuff strain? → Graded exposure program progressively increasing lifting demands while monitoring symptoms
8. What does OSHA stand for? → Occupational Safety and Health Administration
9. Which data source is most reliable for establishing a baseline injury rate before calculating ergonomic intervention benefits? → OSHA 300 Log records and first-report-of-injury forms
10. In a standing workstation used for light assembly work, the recommended work surface height relative to elbow height is: → At elbow height or 0–5 cm below
11. Which type of muscle contraction occurs when a muscle develops tension while its length remains constant, such as holding a part stationary? → Isometric contraction
12. Why is equipment adjustment important in ergonomic risk identification? → Ensure fit and reduce strain
13. NIOSH recommends an action limit of 3.4 kN for lumbar compressive force. What percentage of working population is at elevated risk above this threshold? → Approximately 25% of workers
14. Which tool is MOST appropriate for quantifying the risk of low-back injury from manual material handling tasks? → NIOSH Lifting Equation
15. Which condition is characterized by inflammation of the tendons attaching the forearm muscles to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow? → Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
16. In the hierarchy of controls applied to ergonomic hazards, which control type is prioritized highest under both OSHA guidance and ANSI Z10? → Engineering controls that eliminate or reduce the hazard at the source
17. The Borg CR10 Scale used in ergonomic assessments primarily measures: → Perceived intensity of a specific body part's discomfort or pain
18. Which of the following best describes a key competency required for environmental factors & human performance in CIEE practice? → Strong analytical skills combined with effective communication and ethical judgment
19. How can ergonomic compliance reduce workplace injuries? → Eliminate hazards and improve comfort
20. Which ergonomic tool is specifically designed to assess whole-body vibration exposure during manual material handling tasks involving powered industrial trucks? → ISO 2631-1 standard measurement protocol
21. When performing a NIOSH Lifting Equation analysis, what does a Lifting Index (LI) value greater than 1.0 indicate? → The lift exceeds recommended weight limits and poses elevated injury risk
22. During a worksite survey, an evaluator notices workers resting their forearms on sharp desk edges while typing. Which ergonomic risk factor does this represent? → Contact stress
23. Which of the following represents a 'cost avoidance' rather than a 'cost reduction' in ergonomic CBA? → Preventing a projected increase in injury rates from new production line expansion
24. In anthropometric data, what does 'stature' refer to? → Standing body height from floor to top of head
25. Which body landmark is most commonly used as a reference height for setting work surface height at standing workstations? → Elbow height
26. A production line worker performs the same pinching motion 3,000 times per shift. Which factor MOST directly amplifies the CTD risk from this repetition rate? → Simultaneous forceful grip exceeding 10% MVC
27. Job rotation as an ergonomic administrative control is most effective when: → Rotation is between tasks that use different muscle groups
28. In a risk matrix used during workplace analysis, a hazard rated as 'high likelihood' and 'severe consequence' falls into which priority category? → Critical priority — immediate corrective action required
29. During a lifting task, increasing the horizontal distance of the load from the body primarily increases which biomechanical factor at the lumbar spine? → Lumbar compressive and shear forces
30. The 'feasible abatement' requirement in OSHA General Duty Clause enforcement means that a cited employer must demonstrate: → A method exists to materially reduce the hazard and the employer failed to implement it