OHST Workplace Ergonomics & Human Factors Flashcards

What is the primary benefit of adjustable workstations in an office environment?

Answer: They allow workstations to be configured to fit individual workers' body dimensions

Adjustable workstations allow height, reach, and angle to be customized for each worker, reducing awkward postures and lowering the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Which of the following is NOT a recognized ergonomic risk factor?

Answer: Proper illumination at the workstation

Proper illumination is a positive workplace feature that reduces visual fatigue, not an ergonomic risk factor; awkward posture, vibration, and repetition are established MSD risk factors.

What role does human factors engineering play in workplace safety?

Answer: It designs systems, tools, and environments to match human capabilities and limitations

Human factors engineering applies knowledge of human capabilities, limitations, and behavior to design systems and environments that minimize error and reduce injury risk.

Which safe lifting technique should workers use when lifting heavy objects from the floor?

Answer: Keep the load close to the body and lift with the legs

Keeping the load close to the body and lifting with the legs reduces spinal loading and uses the stronger leg muscles, minimizing the risk of back injury.

What is a 'participatory ergonomics' approach?

Answer: Involving workers in identifying ergonomic hazards and developing solutions

Participatory ergonomics involves employees directly in the process of identifying ergonomic problems and developing practical solutions, leveraging their firsthand knowledge of the work.

What is the significance of 'work-rest cycles' in managing ergonomic risk?

Answer: They reduce cumulative fatigue by allowing tissues to recover between periods of exertion

Adequate work-rest cycles allow muscles, tendons, and nerves to recover from fatigue and microtrauma, reducing the likelihood of cumulative musculoskeletal disorders.