RATING GUIDE NO. 18

Ability To Handle Weights and Loads

DESCRIPTION OF JOB ELEMENT

Ability to handle weights and do manual work requiring strenuous physical exertion, e.g., continuous walking, bending, standing, pushing, pulling, or lifting.

LEVELS OF ABILITY

Credit point levels show the degrees to which this element can be demonstrated in two kinds of jobs:

A. Jobs which require frequent lifting of 50 pounds or more and strenuous physical exertion, e.g., construction laborer, stevedore, and freight handler.

B. Jobs which require ability to lift moderate weights (20 to 40 pounds) frequently and heavy weights occasionally, e.g., janitor and food service worker.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

As a part of any job, did you do the following:

- Carry or move furniture or heavy equipment? Yes __ No __ 

- Push, pull, lift, carry, or move things around all day? Yes __ No __ 

-Shovel or dig for several hours a day? Yes __ No __ 

-Stand all day? Yes __ No __ 

-Sweep and mop floors? Yes __  No __ 

-Scrub walls? Yes __ No __ 

Check the weights you had to lift or carry in your past jobs: 
10 lbs. __ 20 lbs. __ 50 lbs. 100 lbs __ .

List some of the heavy things you lifted:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

Check each of the following which you had to use:

handtrucks __  dollies __  wheelbarrows __ 

Have you ever had to take care of a house doing hard work such as cooking, washing clothes, sweeping, mopping, washing dishes? Yes __  No __ 

Have you recently used a lot of physical effort and energy in sports or hobbies? Yes __  No __ 
(If yes, check the appropriate ones below.)
football__  boxing __  basketball __  baseball __  golf __ dancing __  
housework __  hunting fishing, etc. __  home improvement projects__  
other (tell what it is) 
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

(A) Heavy Loads	(B) Lighter Loads
2	3	Able to do work involving occasional lifting or moving of heavy objects over 50 pounds. Serious participation in sports such as baseball and basketball is an indication of at least this level of ability.
1	3	Able to do manual work requiring moderate physical effort e.g., constantly standing and walking to clear tables and carry trays of dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, and carrying stacks of clean linen; able to frequently lift or move moderate weights (e.g., 20 to 40 pounds).
0	2	Able to do continuous manual work involving some physical effort such as emptying ash trays and waste baskets, dusting furniture, and making beds. A maid would usually be at least at this level. Participation in light sports, physical education programs, etc. are evidence of at least this level.
4	4	For sustained periods, able to do work requiring unusual strength and stamina such as constant lifting of 100-pound sacks; OR able to move heavy, bulky, but somewhat delicate items which require agility and knowledge of special handling techniques to avoid damage, e.g., pianos, electronic equipment or construction items such as plate glass show windows, and very large sheets of plaster board.
3	4	Forsustained periods, able to move, push, or lift heavy objects over 50 pounds which do not require special handling techniques, e.g., carrying garbage cans and loading trash trucks. Evidence of physical endurance for strenuous activities is also an indication of at least this level, e.g., ability to push heavy wheelbarrow loads of cement, shovel coal or snow for prolonged periods, and participate seriously in sports such as football.

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Page Updated 11 July 2000