ORS Collection Manual Office of Compensation and Working Conditions (OCWC) U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) August 2020 Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... i Preface ....................................................................................................................... iv Introduction ................................................................................................................ v Information Reference Guide .................................................................................... vi Formatting Key ......................................................................................................... vii Section ......................................................................................................................... vii Major Changes to ORS Manual (August 2020) ......................................................... viii Chapter 1: Key Concepts ...........................................................................................10 1_01 Task, Worker, Job, Occupation ...............................................................................11 1_02 Critical Job Function, Critical and Incidental Tasks ....................................................12 1_03 Job Demands ........................................................................................................16 1_04 Thresholds ............................................................................................................17 1_05 Frequency and Duration .........................................................................................18 1_06 Accommodations ...................................................................................................21 Chapter 2: Collection Strategies ...............................................................................22 2_01 Use Job Descriptions and Other Documents to Prepare for Collection .........................23 2_02 Identify a Collection Approach ................................................................................25 2_03 Prioritize to Maximize Data Collected .......................................................................26 2_04 Take Advantage of Opportunities to Observe Workers on Jobs ..................................27 Chapter 3: Classifying Jobs .......................................................................................28 3_01 SOC Classification ..................................................................................................29 3_02 Job Characteristics .................................................................................................30 3_03 Work Schedules .....................................................................................................31 3_04 Other ORS Variations .............................................................................................32 Chapter 4: Task Lists .................................................................................................33 4_01 Collecting Task Lists...............................................................................................34 4_02 Use of Job Descriptions in Creating Task Lists ..........................................................37 4_03 Documenting an ORS Task List ...............................................................................38 4_04 Consistency between Task List and Element Coding .................................................40 i 4_05 Job Demands When Traveling Is Involved ...............................................................43 Chapter 5: Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) .....................................................45 5_01 Collecting SVP .......................................................................................................46 5_02 Minimum Education ...............................................................................................54 5_03 Non-Degree Credentials .........................................................................................58 5_04 Experience ............................................................................................................69 5_05 On the Job Training ...............................................................................................70 Chapter 6: Cognitive Elements ..................................................................................74 6_01 Collecting Cognitive Elements .................................................................................75 6_02 Work Review: Frequency of Work Being Checked and Presence of Supervisor .............78 6_03 Pace: Control of Workload, Work Pace, and Pause Control ........................................83 6_04 Personal Contacts: Verbal Interactions and People Skills ...........................................93 6_05 Problem Solving ....................................................................................................99 6_06 Interaction with General Public/Crowds and Telework ............................................. 103 Chapter 7: Physical Demands .................................................................................108 7_01 Collecting Physical Demands ................................................................................. 109 7_02 Sitting vs. Standing/Walking ................................................................................. 112 7_03 Lifting/Carrying ................................................................................................... 118 7_04 Pushing/Pulling .................................................................................................... 125 7_05 Reaching ............................................................................................................ 130 7_06 Manipulation ....................................................................................................... 133 7_07 Collecting Keyboarding ......................................................................................... 136 7_08 Low Postures: Stooping, Crouching, Kneeling, and Crawling .................................... 138 7_09 Climbing ............................................................................................................. 143 7_10 Driving ............................................................................................................... 147 7_11 Speaking and Hearing Requirements ..................................................................... 149 7_12 Vision ................................................................................................................. 154 Chapter 8: Environmental Conditions .....................................................................157 8_01 Collecting Environmental Conditions ...................................................................... 158 8_02 Outdoors ............................................................................................................ 161 8_03 Extreme Cold ...................................................................................................... 162 8_04 Extreme Heat ...................................................................................................... 163 ii 8_05 Wetness ............................................................................................................. 164 8_06 Humidity ............................................................................................................. 165 8_07 Heavy Vibration ................................................................................................... 166 8_08 Hazardous Contaminants ...................................................................................... 167 8_09 Proximity to Moving Mechanical Parts .................................................................... 170 8_10 High, Exposed Places ........................................................................................... 172 8_11 Noise Intensity Level ............................................................................................ 173 Appendix 1 ..............................................................................................................175 Appendix 2 ..............................................................................................................180 Appendix 3 ..............................................................................................................181 Glossary ..................................................................................................................183 iii Preface The Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) Collection Manual is the primary document providing instructions on survey procedures, data collection, and coding for the Occupational Requirements Survey. This document provides broad collection and coding instructions applicable across all ORS collection activities and includes detailed data element definitions, explanations, and examples. This Manual reflects current concepts, definitions, and practices. It will be updated periodically and supplemented by Technical Memoranda and Procedures Alerts issued from the Office of Compensation Levels and Trends (OCLT). See specific changes listed in the Major Changes Table. iv Introduction The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two large national programs that provide disability benefits to individuals who