Auto Mechanics & Technicians
Auto technicians work under heavy vehicles, around running engines and with dozens of chemicals every day. The most serious injuries come from vehicles that fall, exhaust in closed shops, and stored energy like airbags, springs and high-voltage batteries.
- General Industry
- Mechanics
Photo: technician working under a car on a two-post lift with the locks engaged and an exhaust hose on the tailpipe of a running vehicle nearby
Top hazards
- Crushed by vehicles falling from lifts, jacks or improvised supports
- Carbon monoxide from engines running indoors
- Chemicals: brake cleaner, solvents, fuel, coolant, used oil
- Battery acid burns and battery explosions
- Accidental airbag deployment
- High-voltage systems in hybrids and EVs
- Burns from hot exhausts, coolant and fluids
- Back, shoulder and hand injuries from awkward work
Key practices
- Lifts and jacks: use lift points, engage locks, and never work under a vehicle on a jack alone. See Vehicle Lifts and Jacks & Jack Stands.
- Exhaust: connect exhaust extraction hoses to running vehicles indoors. See Carbon Monoxide.
- Brake dust: older brakes and some aftermarket parts can contain asbestos. Use wet cleaning or a HEPA brake washer; never blow dust off with compressed air. See Asbestos.
- Brake cleaner: use non-chlorinated products when possible. Chlorinated cleaner near welding or hot surfaces can form phosgene, a deadly gas.
- Batteries: wear eye protection, disconnect the negative cable first, and keep sparks away. See Battery Safety.
- Airbags: follow the maker’s procedure: disconnect the battery and wait the required time before working on airbag systems; carry live modules with the trim facing away.
- EVs and hybrids: only trained technicians work on orange high-voltage parts. See EV Hazards.
- Gloves: nitrile gloves protect against used oil, fuel and solvents. See Skin Problems.
Shop checklist
- Lift inspected and locks working
- Exhaust extraction working
- Eyewash station nearby and working
- Fire extinguishers charged; oily rags in an oily waste can
- SDSs available for shop chemicals
- Floors clean of oil and coolant
- Tire inflation cage used for split rims. See Rim Wheel Servicing
Standards & references
- OSHA: Autobody repair and refinishing hazards and solutions
- 29 CFR 1910.1200: Hazard communication
- See also: Diesel Mechanics
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