FACTS
- Mechanics are more likely than the average worker to be injured or killed on the job.
- Being struck by or against such objects and equipment as vehicles, engine parts and tools or being caught in equipment or machinery are the most common sources of on-the-job injuries and deaths among mechanics.
- Other common injuries to mechanics are sprains and strains caused by overexertion while lifting objects like tires and wheels, engine parts and accessories. Mechanics also suffer strains as they assume awkward bending or twisting postures to reach engine parts in cars and from holding and working with power tools for lengthy periods.
- Floors and stairs in mechanics’ shops can be made slippery by spills of oil, grease, gasoline, water or other substances. This can lead to slip-and-fall accidents.
STATS
- In 2017, there were 108 fatal injuries (↑19%) and an estimated 9,090 nonfatal injuries among workers in the automotive repair and maintenance industry (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics injury and illness report, automotive mechanics and technicians experienced 13,150 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses resulting in valuable time away from work.
- More than 15,000 work-related injuries were reported by mechanics alone.
- Mechanics reported the fourteenth highest rate of injuries requiring days off work.
- Contact with objects and equipment, such as automobile parts or tools accounted for around 44.5 % of all injuries suffered by the mechanics, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- One of out of every five injuries reported by the mechanics was some form of repetitive trauma injuries, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.