Indoors they may be exposed to loud noise, while outdoors they may be exposed to weather. Either place may be wet and humid. The work is greasy and dirty. Farm equipment mechanics may be exposed to fumes and gases. Assembly of new equipment is heavy work and the proximity to moving parts can be dangerous.
Mechanics usually work with little supervision.
They may travel to farms to make emergency repairs in the field. They usually work 40 to 44 hours a week. During planting and harvesting, they may work seven days a week, ten to 12 hours a day. They may work fewer than 40 hours a week and some may be laid off in the winter months. Most mechanics need to accumulate their own hand tools as they gain experience.