There are three main types of nail guns used on construction sites: compressed air guns for factories, butane gas guns for on-site use, and lighter electric guns. Nail gun accidents are common and usually fall into categories like operators shooting themselves due to improper stance, maintenance errors, carrying guns with fingers on triggers, hand positioning too close to workpieces, or deliberate stupidity. Safety features like nose guards and trigger releases are bypassed in many accidents, so proper training, supervision, protective equipment, and incident investigation are needed to control risks from nail guns.
2. Nail Guns
Nail guns are used a lot on site for shop fitting, timber
frame erection, etc. The use of nail guns has increased
dramatically over the last few years and nail gun
incidents now feature in high numbers in HSE’s
woodworking accident statistics.
3. Nail Guns
There are three main types of nail gun. For factory use
the type operated by compressed air is most
common.
4. Nail Guns
For site use the type using butane gas is widely
used. The butane is mixed with air in a combustion
chamber and ignited by an electric spark when the
trigger is pulled.
5. Nail Guns
The third type are light weight and much less powerful
and use an electric motor and spring to drive the piston
- some of these are battery operated.
6. Nail Guns
Nail guns for timber have built
in safety features and before
the gun can be fired by pulling
the trigger the nose guard
must be retracted a sufficient
distance to activate the firing
mechanism.
7. Nail Guns
This is designed to occur
when the gun is pressed
against the timber.
8. Nail Guns
However analysis of nail gun incidents investigated by
HSE has found that these safety features can be
defeated, either accidentally or sometimes
intentionally. All incidents investigated were found to
come within the following 5 categories and all of these
possible scenarios should be considered when
controlling the risks from nail guns.
10. Nail Guns
Category 2:
Operator accidently
shooting themselves
during nail gun
maintenance without
disconnecting airline (or
removing battery, gas
canister) and nails first.
11. Nail Guns
Category 3:
Operator carrying the gun
with a finger on the
trigger, then making
accidental contact with
someone’s head, or own
leg, etc.
12. Nail Guns
Category 4:
Operators hand
positioned too close to
workpiece and shooting
own hand, sometimes
through the workpiece.
14. Nail Guns
Repeat firing features are not suitable on nail guns that
fire large nails for construction use - ie a second nail
should not be fired unless the trigger has been fully
released and then pulled again. Repeat cycling with the
trigger depressed may be suitable for installing multiple
short nails or small staples through thin sheet materials
or for upholstery fixing.
15. Nail Guns
Nail guns should not
be modified - other
than fitting
manufacturer
approved parts or
accessories. Safety
features must not be
defeated or
disconnected.
16. Nail Guns
When using a nail gun
there is always the risk
that a nail may be
deflected or that splinters
could be ejected towards
the operator or those
nearby or that exhaust gas
could propel dust into the
operator’s face.
17. Nail Guns
Eye protection should be
used to reduce the risk of
these injuries. Accident
analysis found that the
vast majority of eye
injuries caused by nail
guns would have been
prevented if eye
protection had been
worn.
19. Nail Guns
Workers need to be
trained prior to operating
nail guns. They need to
understand how the tool
should be used and how
things can go wrong -
including the incident
causes listed above.
20. Nail Guns
The level of supervision
provided should be
proportionate to the age,
experience, ability and
attitude of each worker.
21. Nail Guns
Any incidents or near
misses should be
investigated by
management to find out
why and how the incident
occurred. Action should
then be taken to prevent it
being repeated.