Ergonomics Awareness Training for Supervisors Practice Test

Can a single physical risk factor lead to an injury?

1. True

2. False

3. Only if combined with others

4. Only in extreme cases

The correct answer is: False

The assertion that a single physical risk factor cannot lead to an injury points to the understanding that injuries are often the result of multiple contributing factors. In many cases, a single risk factor, such as repetitive motions, poor posture, or prolonged exposure to certain environments, may not be sufficient on its own to cause harm. Instead, injuries usually result from the cumulative effect of various risk factors interacting over time or from the presence of additional contextual elements, such as individual physical conditions or external environmental variables. For example, someone might engage in repetitive tasks that exert strain on their muscles; however, if they maintain good posture and take regular breaks, the risk of injury may remain low. Conversely, if they combine those repetitive tasks with poor posture and long hours without breaks, the likelihood of sustaining an injury increases significantly. Hence, viewing injuries as being caused solely by a single factor fails to capture the complexity of how physical risks contribute to injury development.