Nail Gun Safety

With the invention of nail guns, the use of traditional hammers to fix nails on any wooden and other building material has become outdated. Old fashioned hammers can be useful when working on a small project such as repairing a wooden chair. However, for larger tasks like home construction or building a new roof, a nail gun is an ideal choice. These labor saving tools commonly used by professional builders work at a high speed and complete the task within a short time. These tools can drive nails into any type of wood in a fraction of a second. No wonder their popularity is increasing day by day.

While there are different types of nail guns such as the electric and cordless ones, the most commonly used are the pneumatic air guns that makes use of an air compressor to eject the nails onto the target. A nail gun has a handle, a barrel and a trigger to shoot out the nails. This tool can rapidly fire nails one after another into the surface to be nailed. Although they are easy to use, one should be very careful while operating this tool to avoid injury. Hence, all nail gun safety rules should be followed strictly when handling the gun.

Nail Gun Safety

In recent years, the incidents of nail gun accidents have increased tremendously. This is because safety procedures recommended for operating this tool are being ignored. Here are some nail gun safety tips that need to be followed when operating a nail gun.

• Before using the nail gun, carefully go through the owner's manual. It is essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure safety. You can also take the help of people who have a good experience of operating this tool. Discuss what are the safe operating procedures to avoid any kind of injury.
• A nail gun comes with numerous safety features to prevent any sort of mishap. So under any circumstances, these safety devices should not be tampered with or modified. During maintenance or loading the gun with nails, disconnect the gun from its power source
• Do not forget to wear soundproof ear protectors, and safety glasses that have side shields or else you can go for face shields. This kind of protection is a must whenever operating a nail gun.
• In case you are using a pneumatic nail gun, make use of compressed gas to operate the tool. Bottled gas is not suitable for nail guns. The air pressure for a pneumatic nail gun should also not exceed beyond a certain limit.
• Using the tool around flammable objects should also be avoided.
• Ensure that the tool is not within the reach of other people, especially children who are unaware of its working. While nailing a piece, ensure that your opposite hand (free hand) is minimum of one foot away from the tool.
• Do not unnecessarily hold the trigger if you are not firing the tool.
• Ignoring the maintenance of a nail gun can lead to fatal injuries that may cause irreparable damage to the body. Proper maintenance on a regular basis will ensure smooth functioning of the tool for years to come.
• One has to be extremely cautious in handling the gun. A minor slip will cause the nail to be ejected somewhere else.
• Using old, rusted nails can affect the working capability of the gun as it can lead to misfiring or a jam. To be on the safer side, use clean nails. You are also advised to use appropriate type of nails in your nail gun.

Nail Gun Accidents

It has been observed that after the nails hit the target, they rebound back and may injure the face of the operator. Sometimes, the nail strikes the target so hard that it passes through the material, causing injury to a person standing behind the nailing surface. Nails hitting electrical wires can also cause a lot of trouble. In most cases, the force of the nailing breaks away the material which many a times bounce back and hit the operator itself.

Remember, it is essential to use nail guns properly for safe use. The best and the easiest way to prevent injuries associated with the use of a nail gun is to adhere to aforementioned nail gun safety rules.