Use of Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) on formwork carpentry - A comparison between the United States and Hong Kong

Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the utilization and applicability of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) as a methodology to study the job profile (nature and physical demand) of formwork carpentry in the local situation. Study design: Thirty male formwork carpenters were recruited by convenient sampling to participate in a two-hour interview, with reference to the DOT Physical Demand Questionnaire (DOTPDQ) and the WestTool Sort Questionnaire. The information obtained was further consolidated by comparing the results from the interview to three construction sites and training guidelines from the formwork carpentry training centers. The triangulation of the data formulated a job profile of formwork carpenters. Results: The results from the DOTPDQ revealed that workers' work demands were standing, walking, pushing, pulling, reaching, climbing, balancing, stooping, crouching, lifting, carrying, handling and near acuity. This produced an agreement of 84.6% with the original DOT. A discrepancy was found in the demands of kneeling, fingering, far acuity and depth perception. Conclusions: The discrepancy between the data from the United States and local appeared to be minimal. It was thus inferred that the DOT-based job profile was largely valid for describing formwork carpentry in Hong Kong. In-depth analysis should be conducted to further substantiate the validity of utilizing the DOT system for other job types and their physical demands.