Legal Definitions - very heavy work

Very heavy work refers to a job classification that demands an exceptionally high level of physical exertion and stamina. In legal contexts, such as disability assessments or workers' compensation claims, this typically means a job requiring the frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more, and the occasional lifting or carrying of objects weighing over 100 pounds. Beyond just lifting, it also encompasses tasks that involve significant physical strength and endurance for prolonged periods, such as pushing, pulling, climbing, or standing while handling extremely heavy loads.

• Example 1: Consider a professional furniture mover whose daily responsibilities include disassembling and reassembling large, solid wood furniture pieces, manually carrying heavy safes and filing cabinets up and down multiple flights of stairs, and pushing fully loaded industrial shelving units onto trucks. Many of these items consistently weigh between 75 and 150 pounds, and the work requires sustained physical effort for an entire workday.

  How this illustrates "very heavy work": This scenario clearly fits the definition because the individual is frequently lifting and carrying objects well over 50 pounds, and occasionally handling items exceeding 100 pounds. The continuous nature of these strenuous tasks, combined with the need to navigate stairs and push heavy loads, demonstrates the extreme physical demands characteristic of "very heavy work."

• Example 2: Imagine a specialized industrial laborer whose primary role is to manually load and unload large, heavy-duty machinery components from flatbed trucks at a manufacturing plant. This involves repeatedly lifting and positioning metal parts weighing 60-90 pounds, and occasionally using hoists to assist with components that still require significant manual guidance and maneuvering, weighing over 100 pounds, all while standing and bending for most of their shift in a physically demanding environment.

  How this illustrates "very heavy work": This example showcases "very heavy work" due to the consistent requirement to lift and carry objects significantly above the 50-pound threshold, with occasional tasks involving items over 100 pounds. The combination of frequent heavy lifting, sustained physical positioning, and the overall demanding nature of the industrial environment aligns with the criteria for this classification.