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Manny Halpern at NY University writes....

Thanks for keeping me in the distribution list. I always enjoy reading it. The Winter/Spring 2007 issue contained one article that I felt deserved a comment. You refer repeatedly to the DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles) as the format for quantifying work demands. FYI, the DOL (Dept of Labor) abandoned the DOT about 12 years ago and has been using O*NET - a system that enables you to describe the exertional (physical) as well as non-exertional (mental) demands. Several PTs built their services on the DOT and were upset when the DOL switched; the problem with the DOT was that with the shift in the job market toward a more service-oriented economy, it could not define job requirements adequately.

We have been using O*NET-like job descriptions for establishing medical standards for hiring/promotion/return-to-work purposes. In other words, O*NET taxonomy can be used for medical decision making.

The Department of Labor notes that "The DOT was created by the Employment and Training Administration, and was last updated in 1991. It is included on the Office of Administrative Law Judges web site because it is a standard reference in several types of cases adjudicated by the Office of Administrative Law Judges, especially labor-related immigration cases."

The DOT, however, has been replaced by the O*NET

For more details, visit http://online.onetcenter.org

Manny

Thank you Manny for bringing this change to my attention. I was aware that the DOT had not been reprinted since 1991 but was not familiar with O*NET. The physical demands table I provided however continues to be current. Your update is appreciated.

Alison Heller-Ono, Editor, WINFORMA

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