NEBOSH Musculoskeletal Hazards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the 'Environment' factor in a TILE assessment specifically consider?
- The worker's home environment and personal life
- Space constraints, floor conditions, lighting, temperature, and weather at the handling location (Correct answer)
- The environmental impact of the materials being handled
- The organisation's environmental management policy
Correct answer: Space constraints, floor conditions, lighting, temperature, and weather at the handling location
The Environment factor in TILE covers the physical conditions where manual handling takes place — including available space, floor surface and levels, lighting adequacy, temperature extremes, wind (for outdoor work), and any other environmental conditions that could increase risk.
Question 2: The HSE guideline filter figures for manual handling suggest a maximum weight of 25 kg for a man lifting at what position?
- At floor level with arms extended
- Close to the body at waist height (Correct answer)
- Above shoulder height with arms raised
- At arm's length away from the body at any height
Correct answer: Close to the body at waist height
The HSE guideline figures indicate that for a man, the maximum recommended weight is 25 kg when lifted close to the body at elbow/waist height. This is the optimum lifting zone. Weights reduce significantly as the load moves further from the body or higher/lower than waist height.
Question 3: Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of which nerve?
- The ulnar nerve at the elbow
- The median nerve at the wrist (Correct answer)
- The radial nerve at the forearm
- The sciatic nerve at the lower back
Correct answer: The median nerve at the wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Repetitive wrist movements, vibration, and forceful gripping can cause swelling of tendons in the tunnel, putting pressure on the nerve and causing numbness, tingling and pain.
Question 4: Which type of mechanical handling equipment would be most suitable for lifting loads vertically between floors in a building?
- A pallet truck
- A goods lift or crane (Correct answer)
- A conveyor belt
- A sack trolley
Correct answer: A goods lift or crane
A goods lift or crane is designed for vertical lifting of loads between different levels. Pallet trucks and trolleys are for horizontal movement, while conveyors are typically for continuous horizontal or inclined transport of items.
Question 5: Under the DSE Regulations, who qualifies as a 'user' of display screen equipment?
- Anyone who occasionally glances at a computer screen
- An employee who habitually uses DSE as a significant part of their normal work (Correct answer)
- Only those who use a computer for more than 8 hours a day
- Only employees who have requested a DSE assessment
Correct answer: An employee who habitually uses DSE as a significant part of their normal work
The DSE Regulations define a 'user' as an employee who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work. The HSE provides guidance factors including daily usage duration, dependency on DSE to do the job, and limited discretion over use.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of ergonomic principles in workplace design?
- To maximise worker output and production speed
- To fit the task, equipment and workplace to the worker to reduce injury risk (Correct answer)
- To standardise all workstations so they are identical
- To eliminate the need for health surveillance
Correct answer: To fit the task, equipment and workplace to the worker to reduce injury risk
Ergonomics is fundamentally about fitting the work to the worker, not the worker to the work. This means designing tasks, tools, equipment, and workstations to suit the physical and cognitive capabilities of the people who use them, thereby reducing the risk of musculoskeletal and other injuries.
NEBOSH Musculoskeletal Hazards 3
What does the 'Environment' factor in a TILE assessment specifically consider?