CIEE Ergonomic Principles & Evaluation Techniques 4 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Borg CR10 Scale used in ergonomic assessments primarily measures:
- Overall physical exertion as perceived by the worker
- Perceived intensity of a specific body part's discomfort or pain (Correct answer)
- Cardiovascular workload expressed as a percentage of maximum heart rate
- Noise annoyance rating on a 10-point scale
Correct answer: Perceived intensity of a specific body part's discomfort or pain
The Borg CR10 Scale is a ratio scale used to quantify perceived intensity of specific sensations, including pain or discomfort in a targeted body region.
Question 2: A manufacturing facility wants to evaluate cumulative low-back disorder risk for a job involving multiple lifting tasks throughout the shift. Which tool is best suited for this analysis?
- RULA
- Composite Lifting Index (CLI) from the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (Correct answer)
- OWAS
- Strain Index
Correct answer: Composite Lifting Index (CLI) from the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
The Composite Lifting Index (CLI) extends the NIOSH equation to account for cumulative exposure across multiple different lifting tasks in a single job.
Question 3: Contact stress (pressure points) is considered an ergonomic risk factor because it:
- Increases metabolic demand by raising core body temperature
- Compresses tendons, nerves, and blood vessels, reducing circulation and increasing injury risk (Correct answer)
- Reduces worker productivity by causing distraction and discomfort
- Is the primary cause of whole-body vibration disorders
Correct answer: Compresses tendons, nerves, and blood vessels, reducing circulation and increasing injury risk
Contact stress from hard or sharp workstation edges compresses soft tissue structures, impairing circulation and increasing CTD risk.
Question 4: During an ergonomic evaluation of a keyboard-intensive data entry job, the evaluator notices the monitor is positioned 90 cm from the worker's eyes. This distance is:
- Optimal for all workers regardless of visual acuity
- Too far for most workers; 50â70 cm is the recommended range (Correct answer)
- Acceptable only if the monitor is tilted upward
- Too close and increases glare-related eye strain
Correct answer: Too far for most workers; 50â70 cm is the recommended range
The recommended monitor viewing distance for most office tasks is 50â70 cm (approximately arm's length), with adjustments based on screen size and font.
Question 5: Which of the following is the primary purpose of a 'job demands analysis' (JDA) in an ergonomic program?
- To determine the appropriate worker compensation rate for a given job
- To systematically document the physical, cognitive, and environmental demands of a job for comparison with worker capabilities (Correct answer)
- To establish production quotas based on average worker output
- To identify which workers are most susceptible to musculoskeletal injury
Correct answer: To systematically document the physical, cognitive, and environmental demands of a job for comparison with worker capabilities
A JDA systematically documents all task demandsâphysical, cognitive, and environmentalâto enable matching of job requirements with worker abilities and to identify hazard control opportunities.
Question 6: In the hierarchy of ergonomic controls, which intervention ranks highest in effectiveness for eliminating musculoskeletal hazards?
- Administrative controls such as job rotation
- Personal protective equipment such as anti-vibration gloves
- Elimination of the hazardous task through process redesign (Correct answer)
- Worker training on proper body mechanics
Correct answer: Elimination of the hazardous task through process redesign
Elimination of the hazardous task entirelyâthrough process automation or redesignâis the most effective control because it removes the hazard at the source.
Question 7: A CIEE candidate is reviewing a task where workers extend their shoulders beyond 45° while loading overhead conveyor hooks. This posture is considered high-risk primarily because:
- It reduces grip strength by altering the length-tension relationship of forearm muscles
- Shoulder elevation above 45° substantially increases supraspinatus tendon impingement risk and muscle load (Correct answer)
- It prevents workers from maintaining eye contact with the load
- It violates OSHA's General Duty Clause shoulder angle limits
Correct answer: Shoulder elevation above 45° substantially increases supraspinatus tendon impingement risk and muscle load
Shoulder elevation beyond 45° narrows the subacromial space and dramatically increases shoulder muscle fatigue and impingement injury risk.
CIEE Ergonomic Principles & Evaluation Techniques 4
The Borg CR10 Scale used in ergonomic assessments primarily measures: