Body repairers usually work alone with only general directions from supervisors. In some shops, they may be assisted by helpers or apprentices. Repairing damaged motor vehicles requires a broad knowledge of reconstruction techniques. Most automotive body repairers work 40 to 60 hours a week. They work indoors in body shops which are noisy because of the banging of hammers against metal and the whir of power tools.
Most shops are well ventilated to partially disperse dust and paint fumes.
Body repairers often work in awkward or cramped positions, and much of their work is strenuous and dirty. Hazards include cuts from sharp metal edges, burns from torches and heated metal, injuries from power tools, and fumes from paint. Employment Automotive body repairers held about 202,000 jobs in 1992. Most worked for shops that specialized in body repairs and painting, and for automobile and truck dealers. Others worked for organizations that maintain their own motor vehicles, such as trucking companies and automobile rental companies.