Definitions of Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Very Heavy Work

Sometimes it is worth examining our presumptions about what terms and phrases of art mean.  We explore the issue of the exertional demands of the different ranges of work.  The Occupational Requirements Survey is a creature of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The ORS is intended as the eventual replacement for the Dictionary of Occupational Titles.  Here is the ORS definitions of light through very heavy work.

Table 1. Determining strength level based on duration of lifting or carrying
Strength level	Duration of lifting or carrying
	Seldom	Occasionally	Frequently	Constantly
Light work	11-20 pounds	11-20 pounds	1-10 pounds	Negligible weight
Medium work	21-50 pounds	21-50 pounds	11-25 pounds	1-10 pounds
Heavy work	51-100 pounds	51-100 pounds	26-50 pounds	11-20 pounds
Very heavy work	>100 pounds	>100 pounds	>50 pounds	>20 pounds

The definition of sedentary is a residual category, a process of excluding other ranges of work. 

Table 2. Special cases for calculating strength level
Strength level	Description
Unknown	If it is unknown whether lifting or carrying occurs occasionally, frequently, or constantly or none of the conditions in the strength level chart are met and standing or walking or sitting are unknown.
Sedentary	If none of the conditions in the strength level chart are met and standing or walking occurs less than or equal to 1/3 of the work schedule.
Light work	If none of the conditions in the strength chart are met and does not meet the special conditions for unknown or sedentary.

The amount of standing/walking in a day is a factor only in differentiating between sedentary and light work.  The statement is SSR 83-10 that the primary difference between sedentary and light work is the amount of standing/walking conforms to Labor definitions.  The statements in SSR 83-10 that light and medium work involve standing/walking six hours in a workday was not correct in 1983, not correct in 1991, and not correct today.  Light work involves standing/walking from zero to eight hours per day. 

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SUGGESTED CITATION:

Lawrence Rohlfing, Definitions of Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, and Very Heavy Work," California Social Security Attorney (January 22, 2020),
https://californiasocialsecurityattorney.blogspot.com/2020/01/definitions-of-sedentary-light-medium.html