Property & Apartment Maintenance Workers

Maintenance techs at apartments, offices and campuses do a little of every trade in a single day: unclog a drain, change a light, patch drywall, fix a furnace and climb on the roof. Each task brings its own hazards, often without the training or equipment a specialist would have.

• Maintenance
• Building services

Top hazards

• Falls from ladders and roofs
• Electric shock from working on live circuits
• Asbestos and lead in older buildings (before about 1980)
• Mold, sewage and pests
• Chemicals: drain cleaners, pool chemicals, pesticides
• Needles and sharps in units and trash
• Carbon monoxide from furnaces and water heaters
• Working alone; confrontations with residents

Know your limits

• Electrical: only do electrical work you’re trained and qualified for, and always turn off and test before touching. Many jobs need a licensed electrician. See Qualified vs. Unqualified.
• Gas appliances: leave gas line work to licensed gas fitters. See Gas Fitters.
• Asbestos: don’t sand, scrape or cut old flooring, popcorn ceilings, pipe insulation or drywall mud until it’s tested. See Asbestos.
• Lead paint: in pre-1978 housing, renovation work that disturbs paint must follow lead-safe practices, and firms need EPA RRP certification. See Lead.

Daily habits

• Right ladder for the job; podium ladders indoors. See Platform Ladders
• Lock out equipment before servicing: furnaces, garbage disposals, pumps
• Read labels and SDSs; never mix chemicals
• Gloves and care when reaching into drains, traps and trash
• Carry a CO detector when servicing fuel-burning appliances
• Let someone know which unit you’re in; keep your phone on you
• Don’t enter a unit alone if a situation feels unsafe

Last updated: October 2, 2026