HFS206e

Specimen Examination Paper

Occupational Biomechanics
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Time allowed: 2 hours

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INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS:

1. This examination contains FIVE (5) questions and comprises TWO (2) printed
pages (including cover page).

2. You must answer ALL questions.

3. This is a Closed Book examination.

4. All answers must be written in the answer book.

At the end of the examination

Please ensure that you have written your examination number on each answer book
used.

Failure to do so will mean that your work cannot be identified.

If you have used more than one answer book, please tie them together with the string
provided.

THE UNIVERSITY RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO MARK YOUR

SCRIPT IF YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

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Specimen Examination Paper
Answer all the questions. (Total 100 marks)

Question 1

(a) Create a sketch of the structures of the wrist joint.

(10 marks)

(b) Describe the muscle functions associated with lifting a box from the floor to a
table top.
(10 marks)

Question 2

(a) Construct a free body diagram to estimate the forces associated with pushing a
hand cart.
(10 marks)

(b) Apply the principles of momentum to the analysis of a pedestrian – car

accident.
(10 marks)

Question 3

(a) Develop a checklist for manual materials handling analysis.

(10 marks)

(b) Explain how the Snook tables were developed.

(10 marks)

Question 4

(a) Explain the anthropometric principles of chair design.

(10 marks)

(b) Compare and contrast tasks with static and dynamic workload.
(10 marks)

Question 5

(a) Outline the procedures for measuring pinch grip strength.

(10 marks)

(b) How would you evaluate hand dexterity?

(10 marks)

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Specimen Examination Paper
 HFS206e
Specimen Examination Paper

Occupational Biomechanics

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Time allowed: 2 hours

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Solutions

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Specimen Examination Paper
Question 1

Marking guide
Applied Anatomy

(a) Create a sketch of the structures of the wrist joint.

(10 marks)
i) Sketch must include Radius and Ulna and Carpal bones (names not needed),
Transverse ligament, Carpal Tunnel identified, Flexor tendons and Medial
Nerve. Also Ulnar nerve, lood vessels and thumb tendons may be included.

(b) Describe the muscle functions associated with lifting a box from the floor to a
table top.
(10 marks)
i) Knee, Hip and Back extensors contracting concentrically in the Saggital
plane, shoulder girdle elevators and shoulder abductors – static contraction,
elbow flexors, wrist extensors, finger flexors.

Question 2

Marking guide
Applied Mechanics

(a) Construct a free body diagram to estimate the forces associated with pushing a
hand cart.
(10 marks)
i) Gravity - vertical forces pulling cart down, ground reaction forces between
cart and floor, vertical forces lifting cart, ground reaction forces through
feet, horizontal frictional forces, horizontal pushing forces. Static
equilibrium.

(b) Apply the principles of momentum to the analysis of a pedestrian – car

accident.
(10 marks)
Mass times velocity,: car large mass times large velocity, pedestrian small mass
larger velocity after impact.

Question 3

Marking guide
Occupational Biomechanics Tools

(a) Develop a checklist for manual materials handling analysis.

(10 marks)
i) Must include load weight, horizontal and vertical components of lifting,
asymmetry, interface, frequency, duration – taken from NIOSH Lifting
Equation. May include amalgamation/ summary.

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Specimen Examination Paper
 (b) Explain how the Snook tables were developed.
(10 marks)
i) Explain psychophysics – human perception of physical quantities. Methods
of ascending and descending trials, maximum acceptable weight of lift,
cohort, frequency and spatial contextual variables

Question 4

Marking guide
Workplace and work design

(a) Explain the anthropometric principles of chair design.

(10 marks)
i) Population statistics, parameters to include lower leg length, buttock – knee
length, hip width, assignment of 5th and 95th percentiles. Considerations of
shoes, also knee room and elbow height, and maybe screen height for good
measure.

(b) Compare and contrast tasks with static and dynamic workload.
(10 marks)
i) Muscle fatigue due to overproduction of products of muscle contraction in
high dynamic activity and inadequate removal of products of contraction in
static case. Give examples such as running and sitting.

Question 5

Marking guide
Occupational Biomechanics Laboratory Methods

(a) Outline the procedures for measuring pinch grip strength.

(10 marks)
i) Define pinch posture, describe duration – three seconds approx, define rest
period, define repetitions and use of mean, median or maximum, describe
subject sampling, describe observer encouragement and performance
feedback effects

(b) How would you evaluate hand dexterity?

(10 marks)
i) Standardised tests such as Purdue pegboard, Minnesota blocks. Procedure
description, practice session, Time and error measurement, Procedure
control. Left and or Right hands, Task repetitions, Subject cohort.

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Specimen Examination Paper