Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Examine, sort, and route mail. Load, operate, and occasionally adjust and repair mail processing, sorting, and canceling machinery. Keep records of shipments, pouches, and sacks, and perform other duties related to mail handling within the postal service. Includes postal service mail sorters and processors employed by USPS contractors.
Clear jams in sorting equipment.
Operate various types of equipment, such as computer scanning equipment, addressographs, mimeographs, optical character readers, and bar-code sorters.
Sort odd-sized mail by hand, sort mail that other workers have been unable to sort, and segregate items requiring special handling.
Direct items according to established routing schemes, using computer-controlled keyboards or voice-recognition equipment.
Check items to ensure that addresses are legible and correct, that sufficient postage has been paid or the appropriate documentation is attached, and that items are in a suitable condition for processing.
Bundle, label, and route sorted mail to designated areas, depending on destinations and according to established procedures and deadlines.
Move containers of mail, using equipment, such as forklifts and automated "trains".
Open and label mail containers.
Load and unload mail trucks, sometimes lifting containers of mail onto equipment that transports items to sorting stations.
Distribute incoming mail into the correct boxes or pigeonholes.
Rewrap soiled or broken parcels.
Train new workers.
Dump sacks of mail onto conveyors for culling and sorting.
Search directories to find correct addresses for redirected mail.
Weigh articles to determine required postage.
Cancel letter or parcel post stamps by hand.
Accept and check containers of mail from large volume mailers, couriers, and contractors.
Exposed to Contaminants — 66% responded "Every day".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 44% responded "Extremely important".
Work With Work Group or Team — 48% responded "Extremely important".
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment — 57% responded "Extremely important".
Contact With Others — 43% responded "Constant contact with others".
Spend Time Walking and Running — 36% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Degree of Automation — 52% responded "Highly automated".
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 42% responded "Extremely important".
Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body — 44% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 58% responded "Every day".
Physical Proximity — 30% responded "Moderately close (at arm's length)".
Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 35% responded "Every day".
Frequency of Decision Making — 47% responded "Every day".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 33% responded "Very little freedom".
Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 43% responded "Limited responsibility".
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 34% responded "Some freedom".
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 26% responded "Important results".
Coordinate or Lead Others — 27% responded "Important".
Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Static Strength
The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Perceptual Speed
The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Multilimb Coordination
The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Trunk Strength
The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
