OHST Workplace Ergonomics & Human Factors Flashcards

What is the NIOSH Lifting Equation used for?

Answer: Determining a recommended weight limit for manual lifting tasks

The NIOSH Lifting Equation calculates a Recommended Weight Limit for a specific lifting task by accounting for factors such as frequency, distance, and posture.

Which body region is most commonly affected by work-related repetitive strain injuries?

Answer: Lower back and upper extremities

The lower back and upper extremities — including shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands — are the most frequently reported sites of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

What is an administrative control for ergonomic hazards?

Answer: Implementing job rotation to reduce exposure time

Job rotation is an administrative control that reduces an individual worker's exposure to a specific ergonomic risk factor by spreading the exposure across multiple workers.

What does 'anthropometry' mean in the context of ergonomics?

Answer: The measurement of human body dimensions used to design workplaces and tools

Anthropometry is the science of measuring human body dimensions, and ergonomists use this data to design workstations, tools, and equipment that fit a range of workers.

Which tool is commonly used to evaluate ergonomic risk levels in a workplace?

Answer: RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment)

RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) is a widely used observational tool that scores posture, force, and repetition to identify upper limb ergonomic risk.

What is 'cumulative trauma disorder' (CTD)?

Answer: A progressive musculoskeletal condition caused by repeated microtrauma over time

Cumulative trauma disorders develop gradually from repeated small injuries or stresses to muscles, tendons, and nerves over time rather than from a single incident.