Nail Gun Safety Tips To Protect Against Injury

Nail guns have revolutionized the modern-day construction industry, allowing workers to quickly secure nails into wood and other materials in a fraction of the time it would take to manually hammer them through. But these high-powered devices can also prove dangerous if certain safety precautions are not taken.

According to data released by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nail guns are the single most common cause of injury among carpenters, resulting in 37,000 emergency room visits annually. The most common injuries associated with nail guns are puncture wounds to the hands, arms and feet; however, there are numerous cases of fatal nail gun injuries as well.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that treatment of nail gun injuries costs an estimated $338 million per year in lost wages, worker's compensation, medical care and rehabilitation.

Sequential-Trip Trigger

Nail guns have come a long ways since they first hit the market over 60 years ago. Manufacturers have acknowledged the need for greater safety standards by implementing new trigger mechanisms with a focus on injury prevention. Arguably, the safest nail gun trigger design is known as the sequential-trip trigger.

A sequential-trip trigger requires the nozzle to be pressed against the wood (or other material), before the manual trigger can be depressed. In other words, you can point it into the air and fire the trigger. Both the nozzle and manual trigger must be depressed in order for it to fire. The CDC reports that over half of all nail gun injuries can be prevented by using a sequential-trip trigger.

Training

Of course, training (or lack thereof) also plays a role in nail gun injuries. Workers who are unfamiliar with the mechanisms and features of a nail gun are more likely to suffer an injury. Employers should train their employees on the correct way to use a nail gun -- assuming their professional duties call for it.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends workers wear the following personal protective equipment (PPE) when using a nail gun:

• Hard hat
• Safety goggles or eyewear marked ANSI Z87.1
• Steel-toed boots
• Ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones

Through training, wearing the right PPE, and using sequential-trip triggers, workers can safely use nail guns while drastically reducing their risk of injury. If an injury occurs, however, it should be reported to the employer so changes can be made to prevent future instances.