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Question
Set 1
Due Date: September 14, 2007
1. Discuss the
relationship between travelers and Procrustes bed. Discuss how this
is related to the relationship between an employee and an employer.
2. Produce an outline
of the history of occupational safety given in class.
There were three significant characteristics or changes in this long
history. Describe these characteristics and/or changes and briefly
discuss the impact they had on health and safety of workers.
2. a)
Describe the how the Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
is conducted. b) Discuss any limitations associated with this survey
tool and how they might affect the interpretation of the data.
4. Elaine works for
a large grocery store company. Recently, she noticed that her hands
fell asleep at night. Her doctor said she had carpal tunnel
syndrome. List three factors that might affect the course of her
disorder. Discuss how each factor might impact her state and
recovery.
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Question
Set 2
Due Date: October 5, 2007
1.
Using the materials found at the class web site, list the muscles
responsible for the following actions:
- flexion of the ulnar and radius
(forearm)
- extension of the arm
- extension of the little finger
- flexion of the hand at the wrist
2.
Discuss two theories of joint lubrication. Which theory best accounts for
the lack of adhesion between joint ends under heavy load conditions?
3. Discuss what is known about
musculoskeletal disorders in the United States. What does the data suggest the future
holds for these conditions?
4. List
the five different types of muscle contractions.
5. Describe, using
information from the lecture and material in the text, the factors that
influence the tension a muscle can create.
6. List two ways of
determining the length of a segment.
7. One design criteria is
"Design for the average." Given our discussions of anthropometry,
discuss what factors might affect finding the "average"
individual.
8. Jack is 69 inches
tall. Estimate the length of his upper arm, forearm, and hand length.
Indicate the degree of confidence you have in each estimate.
9. Discuss the
factor(s) that limit the collection and application of dynamic strength
data.
10. Create guidelines
that would assist ergonomists in the application of static strength data to
dynamic tasks. Your guidelines should include specific guidance on how
these data might be applied and any limitations limit the utility of the
data.
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Question Set 3
Due Date: October 26, 2007
1. Discuss the
limitations of existing anthropometric data.
2. Summarize how
EMG can be used to predict muscle tension.
3. Discuss the
limitation(s) of biomechanical models that attempt to quantify internal
forces. Indicate how researchers endeavor to work around this (these)
limitation(s).
4. Provide the
following information based on the lift depicted below: (show your work)
a) the length of the segment
between hip marker and the knee marker.
b) the moments and reactive force at the right elbow.
c) the moments and reactive force at the hip.
d) identify the largest contributor to the moments about the hip.
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(20.5,
19.5)
Elbow (15.33, 29)
Shoulder (15.25, 42.25)
Hip (1.33, 34.9)
Knee (4.66, 18.75)
Ankle (4.5, 2)
1 square on the grid = 1.13"
Body weight: 155 lbs
Load in hands: 20 lbs
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 Discuss why rating scales such
as the RPE, CR, and the VAS can be used as measures of physical exertion.
6. The analysis of manual material handling tasks would be a lot simpler
if we could just measure the physiological (e.g., kcal/minute) and
biomechanical components (e.g., moments and compression). Explain in
detail why we use psychophysical measurement methods.
7. List reasons why
measuring oxygen consumption is probably not the best method of assessing
the physiological demand of a task.
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Question Set 4
Due Date: November 16, 2007
1. Complete
the Multi-task job analysis worksheet below.
When completing the
analysis:
Task three requires
significant control.
Use the equations for the multipliers (except when there are no equations).
Round to two decimal places.
Fax, hand deliver, or e-mail the results.
1.a Using the
analysis of the tasks in number 1, propose and describe in detail two
changes to the design of the task that would bring the calculated Composite
Lifting Index (CLI) in line with recommended CLI of 1. Compute and
report the CLIs for both changes.
Download a blank Multi-task NIOSH Worksheet
2. Discuss factors
that affect an individual's ability to push or pull a load.
3. In class we
discussed guidelines for workstation design. Guidelines were given
from the head and neck, the torso, and the the shoulder. While the
guidelines varied, one common thread ran through all of them.
Identify this common thread and show how it is related to the different
guidelines for each body part discussed.
4. List the
assumptions and limitation of the NIOSH Equation.
5. Given the various
chair designs, discuss how an ergonomist might determine which design is
most appropriate.
6. Provide the URL (Web
addresses) for four sites that describe, sell, or show unique chair
designs.
7. To what extent
do work classification systems such as MTM generalize to use among
ergonomists? Please explain why?
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Question Set 5
Due Date: December 14, 2007
1. Compare and contrast
the two main types of surveillance methods. Include the relative strengths
and weaknesses of each method.
2. List and
describe the various biases that might adversely affect the results of MSD
research.
3. Create a matrix like
the one shown below. Indicate the strength of the evidence for neck
disorders, shoulder disorders, elbow disorders, hand/wrist disorders, and
carpal tunnel syndrome. Use your reading material.
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Contributing
Factors (strength of evidence)
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Disorder
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Repetition
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Force
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Posture
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Vibration
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Multiple Factors
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Other
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4. List 4 different
occupations that have been associated with each of the disorders listed in
item 3.
5. Discuss the relative
strengths and weaknesses of the different epidemiological methods. (Review
Appendix A of the Bernard
& Fine (1997) manuscript for additional direction).
6. Record the recommended
dimensions (from the text) for keyboard height, screen height and
inclination, keyboard distance and screen distance on the image
below. Evaluate the computer workstation where you spend MOST of your
time. Record the dimensions for your workstation.
a. How well does your
workstation reflect the recommended dimensions?
b. What are the implications of differences between your workstation and
the recommended one? For example, what consequences or other
effects might occur as the result of the difference(s)? Be SPECIFIC!
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