New Guidance on Nail Gun Safety

10.18.2011
HR & Safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have developed new guidance to help construction employers and workers prevent work-related nail gun injuries.

According to OSHA, nail gun injuries are responsible for approximately 37,000 emergency visits annually. In some cases, workers have died from their injuries.

Construction workers, particularly those in residential construction, use nail guns every day. Although this tool is easy to operate and increases productivity, says OSHA, there have been reports of internal and external bodily injuries. These injuries occur as a result of:

  • unintended nail discharge
  • nails that bounce off a hard surface or miss the work piece and become airborne
  • disabling the gun’s safety features, among other causes

Injury prevention is possible if contractors take steps such as:

  • using sequential trigger gun nails
  • establishing nail gun work procedures
  • providing workers with personal protective equipment

To view Nail Gun SafetyA Guide for Construction Contractors: www.osha.gov/Publications/NailgunFinal_508_02_optimized.pdf

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