CIEE Workplace Analysis & Risk Identification 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CIEE evaluator uses a checklist during a walk-through survey and notices a worker repeatedly reaching above shoulder height to retrieve parts. Which ergonomic risk factor is PRIMARILY indicated?
- Awkward posture (Correct answer)
- Contact stress
- Vibration exposure
- Insufficient lighting
Correct answer: Awkward posture
Overhead reaching above shoulder height is a classic awkward posture that increases shoulder and neck musculoskeletal disorder risk.
Question 2: When conducting a job hazard analysis (JHA) for ergonomic risks, what is the FIRST step an evaluator should take?
- Rank hazards by severity
- Break the job into discrete tasks (Correct answer)
- Implement engineering controls
- Interview the safety manager
Correct answer: Break the job into discrete tasks
A JHA begins by systematically breaking the job into discrete tasks before hazards within each task can be identified.
Question 3: Which observation method involves timing each work element with a stopwatch to calculate cycle times for ergonomic analysis?
- RULA assessment
- Time study (Correct answer)
- Snook tables lookup
- OSHA 300 log review
Correct answer: Time study
A time study uses a stopwatch to measure the duration of each task element, enabling cycle time and repetition rate calculations.
Question 4: An ergonomic evaluator is assessing a packaging line where workers pinch-grip small components 25 times per minute. Which risk factor category does this BEST represent?
- Repetition (Correct answer)
- Force
- Temperature
- Static loading
Correct answer: Repetition
Performing the same motion 25 times per minute constitutes high repetition, a primary ergonomic risk factor for upper-extremity disorders.
Question 5: During a workplace analysis, an evaluator measures a workstation's table height at 42 inches for a standing worker whose elbow height is 38 inches. What ergonomic problem does this create?
- Shoulder elevation and elevated arm posture (Correct answer)
- Insufficient task lighting
- Excessive floor vibration
- Inadequate knee clearance
Correct answer: Shoulder elevation and elevated arm posture
A table 4 inches above elbow height forces the worker to raise their shoulders, causing shoulder and neck strain.
Question 6: Which tool is MOST appropriate for quantifying the risk of low-back injury from manual material handling tasks?
- RULA
- NIOSH Lifting Equation (Correct answer)
- Hand-Arm Vibration Standard
- Job Strain Index
Correct answer: NIOSH Lifting Equation
The NIOSH Lifting Equation calculates a Recommended Weight Limit and Lifting Index specifically for evaluating low-back injury risk in lifting tasks.
Question 7: A worksite analysis reveals that a forklift operator experiences whole-body vibration for 6 hours daily. Which standard provides guidance on assessing health risk from this exposure?
- ISO 2631 (Correct answer)
- ANSI Z87.1
- NFPA 70E
- ACGIH TLV for noise
Correct answer: ISO 2631
ISO 2631 defines methods for measuring whole-body vibration and sets health guidance values for daily exposure.
CIEE Workplace Analysis & Risk Identification 2
A CIEE evaluator uses a checklist during a walk-through survey and notices a worker repeatedly reaching above shoulder height to retrieve parts.
Which ergonomic risk factor is PRIMARILY indicated?