Question

assignment sheet 2
workplace safety systems
2 consider the following scenarios. for each, decide first what ergonomic principle was not followed, and decide secondly what should be done to control the hazard involved. choose from the list of possible responses below and place the letter of the appropriate response in the blank to the left of each scenario. (hint: use each response only once.)

a. give the worker breaks because this can help his concentration.
b. fit the workplace to suit a worker’s physical size and shape.
c. arrange work times based on mental activity.
d. adjust the height of the table or provide a stool.

a. a factory worker is 1.6m tall. for most of the day, the worker is at a table packing boxes for shipping. at the end of the day, the worker complains of aching shoulders and an ache in the neck.
____ i. what ergonomic principle was not followed?
____ ii. what should be done to control this hazard?

b. a control room operator has sat and watched controls for five hours. the operator did not get a break because one of the other workers was away sick. the operator gets tired and makes a mistake reading one of the controls.
____ i. what ergonomic principle was not followed?
____ ii. what should be done to control this hazard?

Explanation:

Part a

i.

The worker's physical size (1.6m tall) and the table's setup likely don't match, so the principle of fitting the workplace to the worker's physical size (option B's principle) was not followed.

To control the hazard from improper table height/setup, adjusting the table height or providing a stool (option D) is appropriate.

The operator worked 5 hours without a break, affecting concentration. The principle of arranging work with breaks (related to mental activity/concentration, option A's principle context) was not followed (or the principle of allowing breaks for mental focus, which ties to option C's "arrange work times based on mental activity" as focus is mental; but more directly, lack of breaks for concentration, so the principle of arranging work times (including breaks) for mental activity (option C) or breaks for concentration (option A's action ties to the principle of allowing breaks for mental focus, but the principle not followed is about arranging work times with breaks for mental activity (option C) or fitting work to mental capacity. Wait, the scenario is about no breaks leading to tiredness/mistake. The principle not followed is arranging work times based on mental activity (needing breaks for mental focus), so option C's principle (arrange work times based on mental activity) was not followed.

Answer:

B. Fit the workplace to suit a worker’s physical size and shape.

ii.