CIEE Ergonomic Intervention & Solutions 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A manufacturing plant wants to reduce awkward bending during floor-level parts retrieval. The best engineering solution is:
- Post 'bend at the knees' reminder signs
- Install adjustable-height work tables or spring-loaded lift tables (Correct answer)
- Require core strengthening exercises
- Implement a buddy-lift policy
Correct answer: Install adjustable-height work tables or spring-loaded lift tables
Adjustable or spring-loaded lift tables bring parts to knuckle height, eliminating bending at the source rather than relying on behavior change.
Question 2: Anti-fatigue mats are recommended for workers who stand on hard floors primarily because they:
- Prevent slips and falls
- Reduce static muscle loading in legs and lower back (Correct answer)
- Provide arch support equivalent to orthotics
- Comply with OSHA flooring standards
Correct answer: Reduce static muscle loading in legs and lower back
Anti-fatigue mats cause subtle postural adjustments that activate calf and leg muscles, reducing static loading and improving circulation.
Question 3: Which scenario represents a successful ergonomic intervention outcome according to the hierarchy of controls?
- Workers wear back belts and report less pain
- Supervisors remind workers to lift correctly each morning
- A pneumatic lift eliminates the need to manually carry 50-lb boxes (Correct answer)
- Rotation schedules limit any one worker to 4 hours of heavy lifting
Correct answer: A pneumatic lift eliminates the need to manually carry 50-lb boxes
A pneumatic lift is an engineering control that eliminates the manual handling hazard, which is higher on the hierarchy than PPE (back belts) or administrative controls (rotation, reminders).
Question 4: A worker repeatedly twists the trunk while transferring boxes between two conveyor lines. The preferred ergonomic fix is:
- Strengthen the worker's core with a prescribed exercise plan
- Align both conveyor lines so transfer requires only a straight push (Correct answer)
- Rotate the worker every two hours
- Provide a lumbar support belt
Correct answer: Align both conveyor lines so transfer requires only a straight push
Realigning conveyor lines to allow a straight transfer eliminates trunk twisting at the source, making it an engineering control.
Question 5: In participatory ergonomics, workers are involved in the intervention process primarily to:
- Shift liability for injuries to employees
- Improve accuracy of hazard identification and increase intervention acceptance (Correct answer)
- Reduce the cost of hiring ergonomics consultants
- Fulfill OSHA recordkeeping obligations
Correct answer: Improve accuracy of hazard identification and increase intervention acceptance
Workers have firsthand knowledge of task demands and are more likely to adopt interventions they helped design, improving both accuracy and buy-in.
Question 6: Keyboard tray adjustability is critical because it allows workers to:
- Type faster by shortening wrist travel distance
- Position the keyboard so elbows are at approximately 90° and wrists are neutral (Correct answer)
- Reduce monitor glare by moving the keyboard closer
- Prevent unauthorized access to the workstation
Correct answer: Position the keyboard so elbows are at approximately 90° and wrists are neutral
An adjustable keyboard tray enables correct elbow angle and wrist neutral posture, minimizing cumulative loading on forearm flexors and carpal tunnel structures.
Question 7: When a new ergonomic solution introduces a novel risk not present before (e.g., a mechanical lift that creates a pinch-point hazard), the evaluator should:
- Accept the trade-off since the original hazard is reduced
- Document the new risk and conduct a follow-up hazard assessment before full implementation (Correct answer)
- Immediately reject the solution and do nothing
- Allow workers to decide if they prefer the new risk
Correct answer: Document the new risk and conduct a follow-up hazard assessment before full implementation
Introduced hazards must be assessed and mitigated; documenting and evaluating new risks before rollout prevents unintended injury from the intervention itself.
CIEE Ergonomic Intervention & Solutions 4
A manufacturing plant wants to reduce awkward bending during floor-level parts retrieval.
The best engineering solution is: