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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Maintenance and repair workers, general, 2016-2020


Background

General maintenance and repair workers fix and maintain machines, mechanical equipment, and buildings. They paint, repair flooring, and work on plumbing, electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems.

As of May 2020, there were 1,357,630 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $21.05, and the average annual wage was $43,790.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for maintenance and repair workers, general, there were 23,400 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 241.9.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics to maintenance and repair workers, general in private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

6,650

All other natures

5,980

Soreness, pain

3,690

Cuts, lacerations

2,460

Fractures

2,130

Part of body affected

Body systems

3,270

Back

3,250

Hand

3,040

Knee

1,720

Multiple body parts

1,550

Source of injury or illness

All other sources

5,780

Worker motion or position

3,740

Machinery

2,320

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

2,270

Parts and materials

2,010

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

3,930

Struck by object or equipment

3,380

Fall on same level

2,220

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

2,080

Slips, trips without fall

1,900

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 70 for maintenance and repair workers, general during 2020, compared to 78 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure to maintenance and repair workers, general, all United States, 2016–2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

7587647870

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

61010108

Transportation incidents

16211216--

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

3428112218

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

917101921

Contact with objects and equipment

7918--13

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories.

[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: February 11, 2022