SHS Ergonomics & Musculoskeletal Disorders 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of which nerve at the wrist?
- Ulnar nerve
- Radial nerve
- Median nerve (Correct answer)
- Brachial nerve
Correct answer: Median nerve
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand.
Question 2: The RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) tool is primarily used to evaluate:
- Lower extremity postural risk
- Chemical exposure levels
- Upper extremity postural and force loads (Correct answer)
- Noise-induced hearing loss risk
Correct answer: Upper extremity postural and force loads
RULA assesses exposure of the upper limbs, neck, and trunk to ergonomic risk factors including posture, force, and repetition.
Question 3: What is the recommended viewing angle for a computer monitor relative to eye level?
- 30 degrees above eye level
- Slightly below eye level (10–20 degrees) (Correct answer)
- Exactly at eye level
- 45 degrees below eye level
Correct answer: Slightly below eye level (10–20 degrees)
Placing the monitor slightly below eye level (10–20 degrees) allows the neck to maintain a natural, relaxed posture and reduces neck strain.
Question 4: Which engineering control BEST addresses repetitive reaching above shoulder height?
- Providing workers with stretching guidelines
- Rotating workers between tasks every two hours
- Redesigning the workstation to position materials within the worker's power zone (Correct answer)
- Issuing workers anti-fatigue matting
Correct answer: Redesigning the workstation to position materials within the worker's power zone
Engineering controls that reposition materials within the worker's power zone eliminate the hazard at the source rather than managing worker exposure.
Question 5: The 'power zone' for lifting is generally defined as the area:
- Below knee level
- Above shoulder height
- Between knuckle and shoulder height (Correct answer)
- At arm's length from the body
Correct answer: Between knuckle and shoulder height
The power zone is the area between knuckle and shoulder height, where the body can generate the most force with the least stress on the spine and muscles.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of an ergonomic symptom survey in the workplace?
- To document workers' compensation claims
- To identify early signs of musculoskeletal disorders before they become severe (Correct answer)
- To evaluate worker performance and productivity
- To satisfy OSHA recordkeeping requirements
Correct answer: To identify early signs of musculoskeletal disorders before they become severe
Symptom surveys help identify early warning signs of MSDs, enabling early intervention before conditions progress to serious, disabling injuries.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of an administrative control for ergonomic hazards?
- Installing a mechanical lift assist device
- Redesigning a tool to reduce required grip force
- Implementing job rotation to distribute physical stress (Correct answer)
- Lowering a conveyor height to reduce overhead reaching
Correct answer: Implementing job rotation to distribute physical stress
Job rotation is an administrative control that distributes ergonomic stress across multiple workers or body parts, reducing cumulative exposure for any single worker.
SHS Ergonomics & Musculoskeletal Disorders 2
Carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of which nerve at the wrist?