Working Conditions for Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installersHeating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work in homes, stores of all kinds, hospitals, office buildings, and factories—anywhere there is climate-control equipment. They may be assigned to specific jobsites at the beginning of each day, or if they are making service calls, they may be dispatched to jobs by radio, telephone, or pager. Increasingly, employers are using cell phones to coordinate technicians� schedules. Technicians may work outside in cold or hot weather or in buildings that are uncomfortable because the air-conditioning or heating equipment is broken. In addition, technicians might have to work in awkward or cramped positions and sometimes are required to work in high places. Hazards include electrical shock, burns, muscle strains, and other injuries from handling heavy equipment. Appropriate safety equipment is necessary when handling refrigerants because contact can cause skin damage, frostbite, or blindness. Inhalation of refrigerants when working in confined spaces also is a possible hazard. The majority of mechanics and installers work at least a 40-hour week. During peak seasons they often work overtime or irregular hours. Maintenance workers, including those who provide maintenance services under contract, often work evening or weekend shifts and are on call. Most employers try to provide a full workweek year-round by scheduling both installation and maintenance work, and many manufacturers and contractors now provide or even require service contracts. In most shops that service both heating and air-conditioning equipment, employment is stable throughout the year. Heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers held about 249,000 jobs in 2002; almost half worked for cooling and heating contractors. The remainder was employed in a variety of industries throughout the country, reflecting a widespread dependence on climate-control systems. Some worked for fuel oil dealers, refrigeration and air-conditioning service and repair shops, schools, and stores that sell heating and air-conditioning systems. Local governments, the Federal Government, hospitals, office buildings, and other organizations that operate large air-conditioning, refrigeration, or heating systems employed others. About 15 percent of mechanics and installers were self-employed. More information on Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers occupation Number of Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers Working conditions for Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers Significant points for Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers Training requirements for Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |