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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Maintenance and repair workers, general, 2015‐2019


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 2019, there were 1,418,990 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $20.17 and the average annual wage was $41,960.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for this occupation, there were 21,490 nonfatal injury and illness cases requiring days away from work during 2019. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 204.6.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics to general maintenance and repair workers in private industry, 2019
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

6,340

All other natures

4,130

Soreness, pain

3,700

Cuts, lacerations

2,500

Fractures

1,950

Part of body affected

Hand

3,610

Back

3,220

Knee

2,500

Shoulder

2,230

Ankle

1,270

Source of injury or illness

Worker motion or position

3,570

Machinery

3,040

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

2,770

Parts and materials

2,510

All other sources

2,280

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Struck by object or equipment

3,290

Fall on same level

2,530

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

2,330

Caught in or compressed by object or equipment

1,600

Fall to lower level

1,590

[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 78 for general maintenance and repair workers during 2019, compared to 64 during 2018.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure to general maintenance and repair workers, all United States, 2015-2019
Event or exposure[1][2]20152016201720182019

Total fatal injuries (number)

6975876478

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

96101010

Transportation incidents

1216211216

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

2134281122

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

79171019

Contact with objects and equipment

157918--

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories. For more information visit: https://www.bls.gov/iif/overview/cfoi.htm.

[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 Statistics (OES) 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 and CFOI program concepts and definitions see the SOII Handbook of Methods and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: February 3, 2021