Why is looking only at accident reports not enough while identifying ergonomic risks?

Correct answer: Because pain fatigue and near misses are also risk signs

The direct answer is A: pain, fatigue and near misses are also warning signs of risk. Ergonomic assessment should be preventive, so it must look beyond accidents that have already caused injury. Observe the task, ask workers about discomfort, check repeated mistakes and record events that almost caused harm. The reasoning is: a hazard may first produce strain or a near miss; if ignored, it may later produce an accident. Option A is correct because these early signals can reveal risk before serious harm. Option B is wrong because reports do not always concern decoration; it is irrelevant to hazard identification. Option C is wrong because accidents are important evidence, even though they are not the only evidence. Option D is wrong because workers often know practical problems that an outside observer may miss, so asking them is useful, not wrong. Memory cue: report accidents, but also listen to early warnings.