Occupational Requirements Survey

Visual Overview for Physical Demands 

Physical demands refer to the physical activities required to perform the critical tasks of a job. The assessment is focused 

on the physical demands of the job - not the physical capacities of the worker. Physical demand refers to the level or 

duration of physical exertion generally required to perform occupational tasks (sitting, standing, lifting, carrying, 

reaching, pushing, and pulling).

This document offers a general overview and basic descriptions of the physical demands that are collected and 

published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS).

Physical demands covered:

Sitting and standing 2

Lifting or carrying 3

Pushing or pulling 3

Manipulation 4

Foot or leg controls 4

Driving 5

Reaching 5

Low postures 6

Climbing 7

Vision 8

Speaking 9

Hearing requirements 9
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Sitting and Standing

Sitting

Sitting is to remain in a seated position. Lying down, including active lying down like a mechanic lying on a dolly to do 

maintenance under a vehicle, is included in sitting. If workers are able to choose between sitting or standing for a task, 

that is counted as time spent sitting.

Standing 

Standing is to remain on one’s feet in an upright position without moving about. Walking is to move about on foot and is 

included in standing. Time spent in low postures (crawling, crouching, kneeling, or stooping) is also included in standing. 

Choice of sitting or standing 

The ability to alternate between sitting and standing is present when a worker has the flexibility to choose between 

sitting and standing as needed. Jobs that only allow this choice during scheduled breaks, such as a lunch period, would 

be excluded.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Lifting or carrying 

Lifting is raising or lowering an object from one level to another. Lifting can include an upward pulling motion. Carrying is

to transport an object – usually by holding it in the hands or arms, or wearing it on the body.

 

 

Pushing or pulling

Pushing is exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the origin of the force. Pulling is exerting 

force upon an object so that the object moves toward the origin of the force. Pushing or pulling may involve use of 

hands or arms or feet or legs done with one side of the body or both sides.

 
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Manipulation

Gross manipulation

Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with the hand(s). It is often present when lifting involves the 

hands. Note: Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand to hold or operate a tool 

such as tin snips or scissors.

 

Fine manipulation 

Touching, picking, pinching, keyboarding, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than the whole hand or arm 

as in gross manipulation.

Foot or 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.

 
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Driving

Driving is the operation of a motorized passenger vehicle or other vehicles such as tractor trailers, buses, equipment (for 

example, forklifts, golf carts, or riding mowers), trains, boats or aircraft.

Reaching

Reaching overhead

Extending the arm(s) with the hand(s) higher than the head and one of these conditions exist: (1) A person bends the 

elbows, and the angle at the shoulders is about 90 degrees or more, or (2) A person keeps the elbow extended, and the 

angle at the shoulder is about 120 degrees or more.

Reaching at or below shoulder level

Reaching at or below the shoulder is present when a worker extends the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction, 

straightening the arm(s) and elbow(s) and engaging the shoulder(s), but it does not meet the threshold for reaching 

overhead. Reaching overhead and reaching at or below the shoulder can be present in the same task.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Low postures

Crawling

Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

 

Crouching 

Bending body downward and forward by bending legs and spine.

 

Kneeling 

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

 
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Stooping 

Stooping is bending the body forward and down while bending the spine at the waist 45 degrees or more either over 

something below waist level or down towards an object on or near the ground.

Climbing

Climbing ramps or stairs 

Ascending or descending ramps or stairs using feet and legs. Hands and arms may be used for balance (for example, to 

hold a railing). Note: Climbing stairs into buildings with elevators or ADA-compliant ramps is voluntary and therefore not 

included. Stairs onto a vehicle or a piece of machinery or equipment are included.

 

Climbing ladders, ropes or scaffolds

Ascending or descending structures like ladders, scaffolding, ropes or poles that require the use of both the upper and 

lower body to climb.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Vision

Near vision

Clarity of vision at approximately 20 inches or less (that is, working with small objects or reading small print), including 

use of computers.

 

Far vision

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.

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.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Speaking 

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.

 

Hearing requirements 

The ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech. The presence of three hearing requirements are measured:

• In person speech

• Telephone

• Other remote speech