Using the Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs

The Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs (Dept. of Labor 1991) (RHAJ) defines the work fields; materials, products, subject matter, and services (MPSMS); aptitudes; and temperaments. RHAJ, Chapters 4, 5, 9, and 10.  The RHAJ is not listed in the administrative notice regulation nor is it listed in the interpretation of the regulation.

Work fields and MPSMS codes are core to the transferability of skills analysis under agency policy.  Aptitudes address capacities and specific abilities which an individual must have in order to learn to perform a given work activity.  Temperaments describe the ability of the worker to adapt to work situation often a determining factor in success.  WestLaw and Job Browser Pro report work fields, MPSMS codes, aptitudes, and temperaments.  US Publishing does reports aptitudes. Occu Collect reports the RHAJ data as part of the SCO reports.

The SCO describes the RHAJ as providing occupational analysis information based upon the same database as the DOT and the SCO. SCO, Foreword. The SCO directs users for additional information about worker characteristics and techniques to the RHAJ. SCO, Introduction. The SCO directs users to find additional information about data-people-things and for 24 worker functions to the DOT and the RHAJ. SCO, page E-2. The SCO states that the RHAJ contains additional information about components of occupational analysis used by the Department of Labor. SCO, page ID-2. The DOT directs interviewers to refer to the Handbook for Analyzing Jobs in making assessments for disabled workers. DICOT, Appendix D. Because the DOT/SCO instruct the use of the RHAJ, because they derive from the same data base, and because every professional restatement of the DOT/SCO contains the aptitudes, the court should consider them part of the DOT/SCO.