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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Physical Demands

Physical Demands data elements provide a systematic way of describing the physical activities that an occupation requires of a worker. The assessment of these elements is focused primarily on the physical demands of the job - not the physical capacities of the worker. Physical Demand refers to the level and/or duration of physical exertion generally required to perform occupational tasks (sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, pushing, and pulling).

This document offers a general overview and basic descriptions of the Physical Demands elements that are collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS). These definitions are intended to provide information only and are not intended to be used during the course of data collection.

Physical demands covered:

Alternate Sit/Stand or Walk at Will
Climbing Ramps/Stairs
Climbing Ladders/Ropes/Scaffolding
Communicating Verbally
Crawling
Crouching
Far Visual Acuity
Fine Manipulation
Foot/Leg Controls
Gross Manipulation
Hearing Requirements
Keyboarding
Kneeling
Lifting/Carrying
Near Visual Acuity
Peripheral Vision
Pushing/Pulling
Reaching At/Below Shoulder Level
Reaching Overhead
Sitting
Standing/Walking
Stooping

Alternate Sit/Stand or Walk at Will

The ability to alternate between sitting and standing is present when a worker has the flexibility to choose between sitting or standing as needed when this need cannot be accommodated by scheduled breaks and/or lunch period.

Workers in laboratory examining specimen jar

Climbing Ramps/Stairs

Ascending or descending ramps and/or stairs using feet and legs. Hands and arms may be used for balance (e.g., to hold a railing).

Note: Stairs involved in commute/getting into building are excluded if work is always performed in one building. Stairs onto a vehicle or a piece of machinery/equipment are included.

Climbing Ladders/Ropes/Scaffolding

Ascending or descending ladders, scaffolding, ropes, poles and the like using feet/legs and/or hands/arms.

Communicating Verbally

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Construction workers discussing site plans

Crawling

Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Crouching

Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.

Teacher crouching to work with young student

Far Visual Acuity

Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. This is not just the ability to see a person or object, but the ability to recognize features as well.

Fine Manipulation

Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm as in gross manipulation.

Foot/Leg Controls

Use of one or both feet or legs to move controls on machinery or equipment. Controls include, but are not limited to, pedals, buttons, levers, and cranks.

Gross Manipulation

Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand(s). Note: Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand.

Hearing Requirements

The ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds (e.g., machinery alarms, medical codes/alarms). A yes or no answer is captured for each of the five hearing requirements listed:

One-on-one (in person)
Group or conference (in person)
Telephone
Other sounds
Passing of hearing test required

Keyboarding

Entering text or data into a computer or other machine by means of a keyboard. Devices include traditional keyboard, 10 key pad, touch screen and other.

Kneeling

Bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).

Lifting/Carrying

Lifting is to raise or lower an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling). Carrying is to transport an object – usually by holding it in the hands or arms, but may occur on the shoulder.

Near Visual Acuity

Clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less (i.e., working with small objects or reading small print), including use of computers.

Peripheral Vision

Observing an area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point.

Pushing/Pulling

Pushing/pulling may involve use of hands/arms, feet/legs, and/or feet only done with one side of the body or both sides.

Pushing - Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force

Pulling - Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force

Reaching At/Below Shoulder Level

Extending hand and arms from 0 up to 150 degrees in a vertical arc. Reaching requires the straightening and extension of the arm and elbow and the engagement of the shoulder. The elbow does not need to be locked at any time and the arm does not need to remain in a continuously straight position.

Reaching Overhead

Extending hands and arms in a 150 to 180 degrees vertical arc. Reaching requires the straightening and extension of the arm and elbow and the engagement of the shoulder. The elbow does not need to be locked at any time and the arm does not need to remain in a continuously straight position.