PREVENT INJURIES WHEN USING 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 and, in some cases, can lead to death. The largest cause of nail gun injuries are construction-related jobs.

More than half of reported nail gun injuries are to the hand and fingers. One-fourth of these hand injuries involve structural damage to tendons, joints, nerves or bones. After hands, common injury sites are the leg, knee, thigh, foot or toes. Injuries to the spinal cord, head, neck, eye, internal organs and bones are rare, but have been reported and can result in paralysis, blindness, brain damage, bone fractures or death.

Share these tips with your policyholders to help prevent these injuries.

1. Use full sequential trigger nail guns.
2. Provide training.
3. Establish nail gun work procedures.
4. Provide personal protective equipment (PPE).
5. Encourage reporting and discussion of injuries and close calls.
6. If there is an injury, provide first aid and medical treatment.

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration