U.S. Department of Labor Physical Demand Characteristics of Work

The Physical Demand Characteristics of Work chart of the U.S. Department of Labor lists the occupational requirements for physical exertion.

Parameters:

(1) amount of weight moved at work

(2) relative frequency that activity occurs during workday (occasional, frequent or constant)

physical demand level	occasional (0-33% of the workday)	frequent (34-66% of the workday)	constant (67-100% of the workday)	typical energy required
sedentary	10 lbs	negligible	negligible	1.5-2.1 METS
light	20 lbs.	10 lbs and/or walk and/or stand with operation of controls	negligible and/or operate controls while seated	2.2-3.5 METS
medium	20-50 lbs.	10-25 lbs.	10 lbs.	3.6-6.3 METS
heavy	50-100 lbs.	25-50 lbs.	10-20 lbs.	6.4-7.5 METS
very heavy	> 100 lbs.	> 50 lbs.	> 20 lbs.	> 7.5 METS

where:

• operation of controls includes pushing and/or pulling of arm and/or leg controls

• operating controls while seated includes pushing and/or pulling of arm and/or leg controls

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Purpose: To use the U.S. Department of Labor Physical Demand Characteristics of Work Chart to categorize the demands of a given work position.