Pneumatic Nail Gun Safety

1
Pneumatic Nail Gun Safety
2
Injury Statistics

• Injuries have increased since 1991 due to higher
  use of nail guns

3
Statistics

• 60 of nail gun injuries are to workers
• Annual average of nail gun injuries to workers
  from 2001-2005 was 22,200

4
OSHA Regulations

• Employer must provide head protection if there is
  a possible danger from flying or falling objects
• Employer must provide eye protection if equipment
  presents a potential eye injury risk
• Nail guns must have a safety device to prevent
  the tool from firing unless the muzzle is in
  contact with the work surface

5
Common Accidents

• Hands and fingers account for 66 of injuries
• Lower extremities receive 24

6
Common Accidents

• 87 of injuries are puncture wounds or wound with
  a foreign body
• 4 of injuries resulted in fractured bones
• 94 of victims were treated and released

7
Accident Causes

• Unstable or cluttered working conditions
• Modification of safety features
• Many guns are modified to shoot without
  depressing their tip
• Leads to accidental firing

8
Accident Prevention

• Provide training for employees
• Do not modify safety features
• Follow instructions
• Wear eye and ear protection
• Fire only when firmly pressed against wood
• Disconnect from air supply when servicing or
  leaving unattended

9
Accident Prevention

• Work from a stable surface
• Do not point gun at others
• Use guns with sequential tip triggers, which
  require the tip to be pressed before each trigger
  pull
• Keep hoses out of walkways

10
Accidents

• Employee had a nail gun on his belt while working
  behind another employee. The employee turned and
  his nail gun automatically shot the victims
  shoulder. The victim fainted and fell to his
  death

11
Accidents

• Worker on a ladder shot himself in the chest and
  died before an ambulance arrived

12
Summary

• Use nail guns only in stable work areas
• Provide proper training
• PAY ATTENTION!