Light, Occasional Handling, No Fingering -- No Jobs, Confirmed by Dexterity

We have seen this before:  younger individual with a limitation to light work (six hours of standing/walking), occasional handling, and no fingering.  Vocational expert testifies to no jobs.  It is time to collect the win and go home.  But let's look at the DOT codes because many vocational experts will give jobs in this scenario.

The DOT/SCO lists 18 codes that have a classification of light or sedentary work with occasional or no handling and no fingering.  Here's the list:

SOC CODE	DOT Code	DOT Title	STRENGTH	Handling	Fingering
27-2011	961.667-014	STAND-IN	L	O	N
39-3091	342.657-010	BARKER	L	N	N
53-7011	921.685-046	FRUIT DISTRIBUTOR	L	O	N
33-9091	371.567-010	GUARD, SCHOOL-CROSSING	L	O	N
51-3099	524.687-022	BAKERY WORKER, CONVEYOR LINE	L	O	N
33-9031	379.367-010	SURVEILLANCE-SYSTEM MONITOR	S	N	N
51-9198	520.687-066	BLENDING-TANK TENDER HELPER	L	O	N
51-9061	529.687-126	KOSHER INSPECTOR	L	N	N
	922.687-038	COAL SAMPLER	L	O	N
41-9012	299.647-010	IMPERSONATOR, CHARACTER	L	O	N
39-9099	359.677-030	RESEARCH SUBJECT	L	O	N
39-9099	349.667-014	HOST/HOSTESS, HEAD	L	N	N
	352.667-014	PARLOR CHAPERONE	L	N	N
	359.667-010	CHAPERON	L	N	N
33-9099	372.667-042	SCHOOL BUS MONITOR	L	N	N
	379.367-010	SURVEILLANCE-SYSTEM MONITOR	S	N	N
43-5081	222.687-046	PROTECTIVE-CLOTHING ISSUER	L	O	N
39-3031	349.677-018	CHILDREN'S ATTENDANT	L	O	N

The 14 occupational group need separate treatment to confirm why a reasonable vocational expert would not identify the occupations.  Why a vocational expert would not "go there" is a question that requires speculation.  The aptitudes in the electronic files give some insight:

DOT Code	DOT Title	Finger dexterity	Manual dexterity
961.667-014	STAND-IN	5	5
342.657-010	BARKER	5	3
921.685-046	FRUIT DISTRIBUTOR	4	4
371.567-010	GUARD, SCHOOL-CROSSING	5	4
524.687-022	BAKERY WORKER, CONVEYOR LINE	4	4
379.367-010	SURVEILLANCE-SYSTEM MONITOR	4	4
520.687-066	BLENDING-TANK TENDER HELPER	4	3
529.687-126	KOSHER INSPECTOR	4	4
922.687-038	COAL SAMPLER	4	3
299.647-010	IMPERSONATOR, CHARACTER	4	4
359.677-030	RESEARCH SUBJECT	4	4
349.667-014	HOST/HOSTESS, HEAD	4	4
352.667-014	PARLOR CHAPERONE	4	4
359.667-010	CHAPERON	4	4
372.667-042	SCHOOL BUS MONITOR	4	4
379.367-010	SURVEILLANCE-SYSTEM MONITOR	4	4
222.687-046	PROTECTIVE-CLOTHING ISSUER	4	4
349.677-018	CHILDREN'S ATTENDANT	4	4

Aptitudes with a score of "5" require a negligible degree of aptitude.  Aptitudes with a score of "4" require a lower degree of aptitude ability.  RHAJ, 9-2.  Looking for negligible finger dexterity reduces the list to stand-in, barker, and school-crossing guard.  The need for average dexterity for barker eliminates that occupation.  All manual dexterity means the ability to move the hands easily and skillfully.  RHAJ, 9-28.  The examples of below average dexterity from harvesting fruit, repairing and maintaining, and sorting rages and old clothing suggest that our impaired claimant cannot perform the work of a school-crossing guard.  RHAJ, 9-30.  That leaves stand-in.

Overgall, the vocational expert made the right call based on the DOT/SCO including consideration of of the aptitudes contained in the electronic files.