Safety Orientation for Supervisors Practice Exam

Cumulative Trauma Disorders most frequently occur as a result of strain from what activity?

1. Heavy lifting

2. Performing the same task on a continuous basis

3. Poor posture

4. Insufficient rest breaks

The correct answer is: Performing the same task on a continuous basis

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) occur primarily due to repetitive activities that put strain on specific muscles or joints over time. Performing the same task on a continuous basis leads to the overuse of certain body parts, which can result in inflammation and pain. This type of repetitive motion lacks variability, causing the body to stress specific areas continuously without adequate recovery periods. While activities like heavy lifting, poor posture, and insufficient rest breaks can certainly contribute to musculoskeletal issues, they do not primarily account for CTDs in the same way that repetitive tasks do. Cumulative injuries typically arise from the cumulative effect of small, repeated strains rather than from isolated events or insufficient recovery alone. Continuous and repetitive tasks, therefore, are the key contributors to the development of these disorders.