CPE CPE Organizational Ergonomics & Work Systems Questions and Answers

Question 1

Macroergonomics is best defined as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A top-down sociotechnical approach to the design of work systems

Answer

Macroergonomics addresses the design and management of entire work systems — including organizational structure, processes, and culture — using a top-down sociotechnical approach.

Question 2

Shift work is associated with which primary ergonomic health concern?

Accepted Answer

Disruption of circadian rhythms leading to fatigue, sleep disorders, and cardiovascular disease

Answer

Shift work disrupts circadian rhythms by requiring work during normal sleep periods, leading to chronic sleep deprivation, fatigue, and long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health risks.

Question 3

The sociotechnical systems (STS) theory in organizational ergonomics emphasizes jointly optimizing which two system components?

Accepted Answer

Social/human subsystem and technical subsystem

Answer

STS theory holds that work systems perform best when both the social (human, organizational) and technical (tools, processes, technology) subsystems are jointly optimized.

Question 4

Participatory ergonomics involves what key design principle?

Accepted Answer

Active involvement of workers in identifying problems and designing ergonomic solutions

Answer

Participatory ergonomics engages workers as active contributors to problem identification and solution design, improving both the quality of solutions and worker acceptance.

Question 5

Which scheduling strategy is recommended to minimize the health effects of rotating shift work?

Accepted Answer

Clockwise rotation (day → evening → night) with forward-rotating schedules

Answer

Forward-rotating clockwise schedules (day → evening → night) align with the natural tendency of circadian rhythms to phase-delay, causing less disruption than backward rotation.

(CPE) Certified Professional Ergonomist Practice Test

(CPE) Certified Professional Ergonomist Practice Test

CPE CPE Organizational Ergonomics & Work Systems Questions and Answers