Jacksonville Nail Gun Accident Attorneys

 

Hazards of Nail Gun Use

Since 1991, nail gun accidents, particularly with the rise of the construction industry, have increased by 200%. This rise in nail gun accidents prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 2001 to issue a hazard alert to warn the construction industry, in particular, about the dangers of pneumatic nail guns. These construction injury accidents could have been easily prevented by simply implementing the following safety procedures for the use of air nailers:

1. Review the owner’s manual carefully with all operators. Have someone who is familiar with the tool demonstrate safe operating procedures. Then have each employee take a turn on the tool, and watch how each one performs.
2. Always wear safety glasses.
3. Do not hold the trigger down unless you’re purposefully firing the tool. This is especially important when descending ladders.
4. Ensure people or other untended targets are out of firing range. Exercise extreme caution when using an air tool around another worker.
5. Treat the nail gun like a firearm. Never assume it is empty.
6. Disconnect the air hose before clearing a jam or making adjustments.
7. Do not fire the nail gun unless the nose is firmly pressed against a work piece.
8. Use only compressed air to power the tool, not bottled gas. Follow the manufacturer’s specified air pressure for the tool, and never exceed 120 PSI.
9. Keep your free hand and other limbs safely out of the way of the nail gun.
10. Do not operate the nail gun around flammables.

What Types of Nail Guns Do People Use Most?

The two types of nail guns currently in use in the construction industry are “sequential trip” and “coil” (contract trip). The sequential trip is considered much safer as the head of the tool needs to be depressed on a solid surface when depressing the trigger. Consumer groups are calling for the total ban of the coil type nail guns as they can easily misfire if bumped or when they recoil. Unfortunately, some manufacturers and employers are putting speed above safety and are reluctant to change the type of nail gun used in their workplace.

Get Legal Help from a Jacksonville FL Nail Gun Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed by a nail gun, contact one of our Jacksonville nail gun accident attorneys today. With our experience in construction accidents and injuries involving nail guns, Farah & Farah can investigate to determine whether the workplace had required safety precautions in place, that operators were properly trained, and that the nail guns were maintained in proper condition.