.............................................................................................................................. 2

WORK NOT COVERED................................................................................................................................ 2

TITLES .......................................................................................................................................................... 3

GRADE LEVELS .......................................................................................................................................... 3

NOTES TO USERS....................................................................................................................................... 3

PACKER, GRADE 4 ..................................................................................................................................... 3

PACKER, GRADE 5 ..................................................................................................................................... 5

PACKER, GRADE 6 ..................................................................................................................................... 7


U.S. Office of Personnel Management
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Packing, 7002

TS-75 July 1995
WORK COVERED

This standard covers nonsupervisory work involved in preserving and/or packing and repacking
equipment, parts, tools, materials, and other items in various types of containers to protect them
from damage, deterioration, or corrosion during shipment and storage. The work includes
preserving and packing specialized devices, delicate equipment, munitions, weapons, and
combustible and toxic materials and substances. The work requires knowledge of various
protective devices and cushioning materials, a wide range of preserving and packing procedures
and techniques, and of regulatory and safety requirements that apply to preserving, packing,
labeling, storing, and shipping standard and nonstandard materials, devices, etc. Most work
requires the incidental use of a variety of trade practices associated with related or support
occupations such as forklift operating, wood working, mechanical equipment assembly, and
materials handling.

This standard cancels and supersedes the Job Grading Standards for Packer, 7002, issued in
February 1970 and Preservation Packager, 7004, issued in September 1974.

WORK NOT COVERED

This standard does not cover work that primarily involves:

- Cleaning equipment such as aircraft, engines, electronic equipment, fuel tanks, or using
immersion vats or grease pits to remove paint, grease, sludge, oil, carbon, or other similar
surface coatings. (See
Job Grading Standard for Equipment Cleaning, 7009
.)

- Cleaning or preparing surfaces by using sandblasting equipment and machines designed to
use sand or other abrasives on metal and nonmetal surfaces. (See
Job Grading Standard for
Sandblasting, 5423
.)

- Preserving mechanical and metal items against corrosion and deterioration such as large
powered mechanical systems, vehicles, craft, weapons, and generators where disassembly
and assembly are required. The work requires extensive equipment knowledge. (See
Job
Grading Standard for Preservation Servicing, 7006
.)

- Making, installing, and repairing shipping and storage items such as boxes, crates, pallets,
and storage bins from wood and wood substitutes using hand and powered tools and
machines. (See
Job Grading Standard for Wood Working, 4604
.)

- Blocking, bracing, staying, and securing cargo for shipment. (See
Job Grading Standard for
Blocking and Bracing, 4602
.)
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TS-75 July 1995
TITLES

Jobs graded by this standard are titled Packer.

GRADE LEVELS

This standard describes three levels, grades 4, 5, and 6. The standard does not describe all
possible grades at which jobs might be established. If jobs differ substantially from the skill,
knowledge, and other work requirements described in the grade levels of this standard, they may
be graded above or below the levels described based upon sound job grading methods.

NOTES TO USERS

Work within this series often involves the performance of incidental duties associated with other
occupations (e.g., operating a forklift or warehouse tug, repairing shipping and storage
containers, or handling materials). This work may be at the same or at different grade levels;
such work should be graded and titled in accordance with OPM's mixed job policy, as outlined in
Part I of the
Introduction to the Federal Wage System Job Grading System
. Therefore, if the
highest level of work performed represents a single occupation (e.g., Wood Worker, 4604) the
job should be graded and normally titled according to the highest skill and qualification
requirements where such work is performed as a regular and recurring part of the job, even if
the duties are not performed for a majority of the time. The job should normally be coded
and titled to the occupation that is most important for recruitment, selection, placement,
promotion, or reduction-in-force purposes.

In some work situations, the nature of the work and the items being processed may require
workers to have a specific level of security clearance. Although this may be a valid requirement,
it is typically a condition of employment, it has no grade level impact upon the work being
performed.

PACKER, GRADE 4

General:
Grade 4 packers follow detailed procedures to perform routine packing work. The
work involves packing and repacking a variety of items such as industrial, electronic, and
general parts, components, equipment, and other items including printed forms and publications
that require a limited variety of packing procedures and techniques. Packers at this level place,
arrange, mark, seal, and tag items on pallets and in containers, bins, and bulk storage. They
consolidate various items for shipment in accordance with standard operating instructions.
Grade 4 packers use standard and specialized prefabricated cartons, boxes, metal containers, and
other packing materials and devices including tapes, seals, stretch wrap, staples, bands, as well
as vermiculite and other cushioning materials. They use various types of desiccants in packing
some items to prevent or limit moisture and inhibit corrosion. Grade 4 packers use standard
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TS-75 July 1995
tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, and power saws and specialized packing devices
such as strapping tools, stapling and binding devices, vacuum and heat sealing machines, and
tape and wrap dispensers. They use weight handling equipment such as handlifts, pallet jacks,
dollies, and electric lifts to position and/or transport materials prior to and after packing. When
processing, identifying, and labeling materials for shipment, grade 4 packers use both manual
and computer-generated instructions to access specialized packing requirements. For example,
overseas shipments typically require special packing provisions in accordance with standard and
international regulatory requirements. In automated work situations, grade 4 packers operate
computers, optical readers, and scanners (i.e., bar code wands) to input and retrieve information
from the supply system regarding packing requirements, storage conditions, and locations and to
create labels that contain necessary shipping and storage information as part of their packing
duties. They assist higher grade packers in preparing and applying preservative coatings and
materials to parts, tools, and equipment. Grade 4 packers may also perform collateral duties that
involve limited repairs to shipping and storage containers (e.g., securing or replacing loose or
broken boards) and assist other workers in fabricating boxes as part of their packing duties. In
some work situations, they assist higher grade packers in packing and processing hazardous
materials.

Skill and Knowledge
: Grade 4 packers have knowledge of routine packing procedures,
techniques, and equipment as well as basic warehouse procedures. In addition, some work at
this level requires that packers have a basic knowledge of a limited number of preservation
techniques and skill in the application of the associated preservatives. Grade 4 packers have
skill in using a limited variety of packing procedures and techniques. They have knowledge of
shipping documents and can identify shipping requirements and procedures for specific items
using manual or automated processes. Grade 4 packers have skill in using stitchers, heat sealers,
cutters, and hand and power tools. They have skill in the operation of conveyer line consoles
and in the identification of various categories of equipment and materials when working on
automated conveyor lines. They have skill in completing manual and computerized forms and
shipping documents regarding stock description, units of issue, weight, quantity, and labeling
requirements for incoming and outgoing materials and equipment. Packers at this level use basic
arithmetic and standard formulas to determine size and volume of packing containers and
materials. They have skill in assembling standard shipping boxes and packing contents securely
for routine (nonsensitive) type items. They have skill in the use of manual dollies, electric jacks,
and pallet manipulators. Grade 4 packers are able to identify da