Nail Gun Safety
Overview
"Nail guns are powerful.... They are responsible for an estimated 37,000 emergency room visits each year — 68% of these involve workers."
Nail guns are used every day on many construction jobs. They boost productivity but also cause tens of thousands of serious injuries each year. Nail gun injuries are common - one study found that 2 out of 5 residential carpenter apprentices experienced a nail gun injury over a four-year period. Injuries resulting from use of nail guns hospitalize more construction workers than any other tool-related injury. When they do occur, these injuries are often not reported or given proper medical treatment. Research has identified that the risk of a nail gun injury is twice as high when using a multi-shot contact trigger as when using a single-shot sequential trigger nailer.
- Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors (EPUB | MOBI). OSHA Publication 3459, (2011). Also available in Spanish (EPUB | MOBI).
- Straight Talk About Nail Gun Safety. NIOSH Publication Number 2013-149, (June 2013).
- Nail Gun Safety: The Facts. The Duke University and Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR).
- Know Your Nailer: Nail Gun Safety NIOSH, (2016).
- OSHA provides direction for inspecting cranes and derricks on construction worksites. OSHA News Release, (October 23, 2014).
- U.S. Labor Department and Federal Communications Commission announce working group to prevent fatalities in telecommunications industry. OSHA News Release, (October 14, 2014).
- OSHA extends compliance date for crane operator certification requirements. OSHA News Release, (September 25, 2014).
- OSHA issues new directive to keep communication tower workers safe. OSHA News Release, (July 24, 2014).
- Recent fatalities serve as a reminder to protect workers from demolition hazards. OSHA News Release, (July 10, 2014).
- Electrical Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Standard Sub Part V. OSHA Federal Register, (April 11, 2014).
- Construction Industry Digest. OSHA Publication 2202-09R, (2014).
- Hand and Power Tools. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.