Physical Demand Definitions

OWCP has adopted the following definitions from the Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles (where applicable), which should be used when comparing the claimant’s established work restrictions to the physical requirements of positions identified in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

These definitions indicate the absence or presence and frequency of the physical demand components requested on the OWCP-5b and OWCP-5c.

While these definitions are used by OWCP under Vocational Rehabilitation, they can also be used to determine if a job offer is within the claimant’s physical restrictions if the claimant’s strength level has been decided (such as after an FCE).

STRENGTH LEVEL:

Sedentary Work - Sedentary Work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs may be defined as sedentary when walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. 

Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time. Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time.

Light Work - Light Work involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for sedentary work.

Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job/occupation is rated as light work when it requires: (1) walking or standing to a significant degree; (2) sitting most of the time while pushing or pulling arm or leg controls; or (3) working at a production rate pace while constantly pushing or pulling materials even though the weight of the materials is negligible. (The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.)

Medium Work - Medium Work involves exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently or an amount greater than negligible and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for light work.

Heavy Work - Heavy work involves exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for medium work.

Very Heavy Work - Very Heavy Work involves exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for heavy work.

Limits of Weights Lifted/Carried/Pushed/Pulled

Rating	Occasionally	Frequently	Constantly
Sedentary	* - 10	*	N/A
Light	* - 20	* - 10	*
Medium	20 - 50	10 - 25	* - 10
Heavy	50 - 100	25 - 50	10 - 20
Very Heavy	100 +	50 +	20 +

* = negligible weight; N/A = Not Applicable

The range excludes the lower number and includes the higher number, i.e., the range 10 - 25 excludes 10 (beginning at 10+) and includes 25, the range 25-50 excludes 25 (beginning at 25+) and includes 50.

Presence and/or Frequency of Other Physical Demands
this chart should be referenced to determine the frequency of demands for the remaining physical components of a given job.

Code	Frequency	Definition	Max hrs./8 hr. day
N	Not Present	Activity/condition does not exist	0
O	Occasionally	Activity/condition exists up to 1/3 of the time	2 hrs. 40 min.
F	Frequently	Activity/condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time	5 hrs. 20 min.
C	Constantly	Activity/condition exists 2/3 or more of the time	8

REACHING:

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, including overhead reaching or reaching above shoulder level.

TWISTING:

Turning, twisting, contorting, or flexing the torso in any direction towards the right or left.

BENDING/STOOPING:

Bending body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE AT WORK:

Driving any vehicle while in performance of the work duties.

REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS OF ELBOWS (HANDLING):

Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand or hands using the whole arm.

REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS OF WRISTS (FINGERING):

Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers and wrists rather than the whole arm as in handling.

SQUATTING (CROUCHING):

Bending of the body downward and forward by bending the legs and the spine.

KNEELING:

Bending the legs at knees and coming to rest on one or both knees.

CLIMBING:

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like by using the feet and legs or the hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.

Environmental Conditions Definitions:

This chart should be referenced to determine the frequency of exposure of the listed environmental components.

Code	Frequency	Definition	Max hrs./8 hr. day
N	Not Present	Activity/condition does not exist	0
O	Occasionally	Activity/condition exists up to 1/3 of the time	2 hrs. 40 min.
F	Frequently	Activity/condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time	5 hrs. 20 min.
C	Constantly	Activity/condition exists 2/3 or more of the time	8

EXPOSURE TO TEMPERATURE EXTREMES:

Exposure to outside atmospheric conditions and/or non-weather related hot and/or cold temperature.

EXPOSURE TO AIRBORNE PARTICLES:

Exposure to conditions such as dusts, smoke and/or poor ventilation that affect the respiratory system, eyes and/or the skin.

EXPOSURE TO GASES/FUMES:

Exposure to conditions such as fumes, noxious odors, mists, and gases that affect the respiratory system, eyes and/or the skin.

EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION:

Exposure to electromagnetic radiation that affects cardiovascular devices.