Ergonomics and Physical Hazards Flashcards
7 cards from real COHN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ergonomics and Physical Hazards flashcards as text
A COHN is conducting a walkthrough of a cold storage facility (-10°F). Which physiological response to cold stress should be monitored as an early warning sign?
Answer: Cessation of shivering with declining core temperature
When shivering stops in a cold environment, it signals that the body can no longer maintain heat production and core temperature is falling — a sign of impending hypothermia.
Which ergonomic principle does a footrest under a desk primarily address?
Answer: Providing lower extremity support to reduce pressure on the thighs and improve seated posture
A footrest supports workers whose feet do not reach the floor, relieving thigh pressure from the seat edge and reducing lower back fatigue in seated tasks.
OSHA's Noise standard (29 CFR 1910.95) requires a hearing conservation program when TWA noise exposure equals or exceeds:
Answer: 85 dBA
The OSHA action level triggering a mandatory hearing conservation program (audiometric testing, training, and hearing protectors) is an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA.
A supermarket cashier scans items using a wrist-flexed, ulnar-deviated grip. This wrist posture primarily increases risk for:
Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome due to increased carpal tunnel pressure
Wrist flexion and ulnar deviation elevate pressure within the carpal tunnel, compressing the median nerve and increasing risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
When evaluating ergonomic interventions, which metric is MOST meaningful for demonstrating program effectiveness to management?
Answer: Reduction in musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) incidence rates and lost workday cases
Reduction in MSD incidence rates and lost workday cases directly demonstrates health outcomes and business value, making them the most compelling metrics for management reporting.
A non-ionizing radiation hazard from UV radiation in a welding environment is primarily controlled through which PPE?
Answer: Filtered welding helmet with appropriate shade number
Welding arcs emit intense UV, visible, and infrared radiation; a welding helmet with an appropriately shaded lens filter is the primary PPE for protecting eyes and face.
An ergonomics team applies the Hierarchy of Controls to a repetitive motion task. Placing workers on a rotation schedule is classified as which type of control?
Answer: Administrative control
Job rotation is an administrative control that manages worker exposure time rather than changing the physical hazard itself.