Repairers must develop appropriate methods for each job, using their broad knowledge of automotive construction and repair techniques. Body repairers usually work alone with only general directions from supervisors. In some shops, they may be assisted by helpers or apprentices. In large shops, body repairers may specialize in one type of repair, such as frame straightening or door and fender repairing. Working Conditions Automotive body repairers 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, but often they are dusty and smell of paint.
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 more than 221,000 jobs in 1990. 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 buslines.