SHS Ergonomics & Musculoskeletal Disorders 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is ergonomics primarily concerned with?
- Maximizing worker productivity through speed
- Fitting the work environment to the worker to reduce injury risk (Correct answer)
- Establishing minimum wage standards for physical labor
- Designing equipment for aesthetic appeal
Correct answer: Fitting the work environment to the worker to reduce injury risk
Ergonomics focuses on designing work systems, tools, and environments that fit the worker's capabilities and limitations to minimize injury and improve efficiency.
Question 2: Which of the following is a primary risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs)?
- Adequate lighting in the workplace
- Regular scheduled breaks
- Repetitive motion performed over extended periods (Correct answer)
- Proper use of personal protective equipment
Correct answer: Repetitive motion performed over extended periods
Repetitive motion is a primary ergonomic risk factor that causes cumulative stress on muscles, tendons, and nerves, leading to WMSDs.
Question 3: According to the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation, which variable is used to evaluate the horizontal distance of a load from the worker's body?
- Worker's height and weight
- Horizontal distance from the load to the worker's body (Correct answer)
- Time of day the lift is performed
- Color coding of the load
Correct answer: Horizontal distance from the load to the worker's body
The horizontal distance from the worker's body to the load is a critical variable in the NIOSH Lifting Equation, as greater horizontal distance increases spinal stress.
Question 4: What term describes the joint position where the least stress is placed on tendons, muscles, and nerves?
- Extension point
- Flexion angle
- Neutral posture (Correct answer)
- Deviation threshold
Correct answer: Neutral posture
Neutral posture is the position where joints are naturally aligned, minimizing stress on muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'contact stress' as an ergonomic risk factor?
- Mental pressure from supervisor demands
- Pressure on soft tissue from a hard or sharp surface edge (Correct answer)
- Electrical contact with workplace equipment
- Chemical contact with skin irritants
Correct answer: Pressure on soft tissue from a hard or sharp surface edge
Contact stress occurs when body parts press against hard or sharp surfaces, compressing tissues and potentially restricting blood flow or nerve function.
Question 6: Tendinitis is best classified as which type of injury?
- Acute traumatic injury
- Cumulative trauma disorder (Correct answer)
- Chemical exposure injury
- Thermal injury
Correct answer: Cumulative trauma disorder
Tendinitis is a cumulative trauma disorder caused by repeated microtrauma to tendon tissue over time, resulting in inflammation.
Question 7: Which workstation modification would BEST reduce lower back strain for sedentary workers?
- Raising the monitor above eye level
- Using a chair with lumbar support adjusted to maintain the spine's natural curve (Correct answer)
- Placing the keyboard on a higher surface
- Positioning the mouse further from the body
Correct answer: Using a chair with lumbar support adjusted to maintain the spine's natural curve
A chair with proper lumbar support maintains the lumbar spine's natural lordotic curve, reducing stress on spinal discs and muscles.
SHS Ergonomics & Musculoskeletal Disorders 1
What is ergonomics primarily concerned with?