Safety Tip of the Week – Safety with Nail Guns

Nail guns are powerful, easy to operate, and boost productivity for nailing tasks. They are also responsible for an estimated 37,000 emergency room visits each year – 68% of these involve workers and 32% involve consumers.

Nail Gun Injuries:

There are seven major risk factors that can lead to nail gun injury. Understanding them will help you to prevent injuries on your job sites:

• Unintended nail discharge from double fire;
• Unintended nail discharge from knocking the safety contact with the trigger squeezed;
• Nail penetration through lumber work piece;
• Nail ricochet after striking a hard surface or metal feature;
• Missing the work piece;
• Awkward position nailing; and
• Bypassing safety mechanisms.

Prevent Nail Gun Injuries:

By taking these steps, employers can prevent nail gun injuries from occurring:

• Use full sequential trigger nail guns;
• Provide training;
• Establish nail gun work procedures;
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE);
• Encourage reporting and discussion of injuries and close calls; and
• Provide first aid and medical treatment.

IGNORING A WARNING…CAN CAUSE MUCH MOURNING!!