When creating a JA with the Gardiant JA tool, you can hover over the underlined words and see their definition:

This Knowledge Base article contains all the definitions that show up on the Gardiant JA tool so you can easily copy/paste the information if you need to do so.

Note: A Word document with the same definitions is attached at the end of this Knowledge Base article.

Strength Level:

Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are Sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other Sedentary criteria are met.

Light: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing or pulling of arm or leg controls, or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.

Medium: Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Heavy: Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Medium Work.

Very Heavy: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Heavy Work.

Sitting: Remaining in the normal seated position.

Standing: Remaining on one’s feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about.

Walking: Moving about on foot.

Lifting: To exert physical strength necessary to move objects from one level to another.

Carry: Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms or on the shoulder.

Push/Pull:
​Pushing – Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (includes slapping, striking kicking and treadle activities).

Pulling – Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward from the force (includes jerking).

Perform Work on Ladders: Ascending or descending ladders using feet and legs or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.

Climb Stairs: To ascend or descend stairs.

Stooping/Bending: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of lower extremities and back muscles.

Squatting/Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knee or knees to come to rest on the knee or knees.

Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

Reach Waist to Shoulder: Extending the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Handle/Grasp: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands (fingering not involved).

Fine Finger Manipulation: Picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily (rather than the whole hand or arm as in handling).

Hand Controls: Controls entail use of one or both arms or hands (hand-arm) to move controls on machinery or equipment. In this sub-item, the analyst must consider whether the worker moves controls on the machine or equipment by using either right-side body members, left-side body members, or members of either or both sides. In addition, the use of hand-arm controls is distinguished from the use of foot-leg controls. Controls include but are not limited to buttons, knobs, pedals, levers, and cranks.

Foot Controls: Controls entail use of one or both feet or legs (foot-leg) to move controls on machinery or equipment. In this sub-item, the analyst must consider whether the worker moves controls on the machine or equipment by using either right-side body members, left-side body members, or members of either or both sides. In addition, the use of hand-arm controls is distinguished from the use of foot-leg controls. Controls include but are not limited to buttons, knobs, pedals, levers, and cranks.

Vibratory Tasks: Exposure to shaking object or surface. This factor is rated important when vibration causes strain on the body or extremities.

Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.

Visual:

Near Acuity - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. This factor is important when special and minute accuracy is demanded and when defective near acuity would adversely affect job performance and/or the safety of others.

Far Acuity - Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. This factor is important when visual efficiency in terms of far acuity is required and defective far acuity would adversely affect job performance and/or the safety of others.

Depth Perception - Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distances and spatial relationships to see objects where and as they really are.This factor is important when depth perception is required for successful job performance and/or for reason of safety to oneself and others.

Color Discrimination - The ability to identify and distinguish colors.

Accommodation - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This factor is important when doing near point work at varying distances from eye.

Field of Vision - Observing an area that can be seen up and down or right to left when eyes are fixed on a given point. This factor is important when job performance requires a large area while keeping eyes fixed.

Environmental Conditions

Exposure to Weather: Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy conditions, caused by the weather. This factor is rated important when exposure to weather results in marked bodily discomfort.

Extreme Cold: Exposure to non-weather-related cold temperatures. This factor is rated important when temperatures are sufficiently low to cause marked bodily discomfort.

Extreme Heat: Exposure to non-weather-related hot temperatures. This factor is rated important when temperatures are sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort.

Wetness and/or Humidity: Contact with weather or other liquids; or exposure to non-weather-related humid conditions. This factor is rated important when contact with water or other liquids or exposure to humidity causes marked bodily discomfort.

Proximity to Moving Mechanical Parts: Exposure to possible bodily injury from moving mechanical parts of equipment, tools, or machinery.

Exposure to Explosives: Exposure to possible injury from explosions.

Atmospheric Conditions: Exposure to conditions such as fumes, noxious odors, dust, mists, gases, poor ventilation, that affect the respiratory system, eyes, or the skin. This factor is rated important if these conditions are presented to a degree or a length of time sufficient to cause marked bodily discomfort or possibly injury.

Exposed Heights: Exposure to possible bodily injury from falling.

Exposure to Electricity: Exposure to possible bodily injury from electrical shock.

Exposure to Radiation: Exposure to possible bodily injury from radiation.

Noise Intensity: The noise intensity level to which the worker is exposed in the job environment. This factor is expressed by one of five levels. Consider all the benchmarks within a level as providing an insight into the nature of the specific levels.