Nail guns are one of the many different tools workers use on construction sites. However, they can also be dangerous and lead to injury if one is not careful. That’s why knowing good nail gun safety is important. That way, workers can make sure they keep themselves safe while getting the job done…
Nail Gun Safety: Prevent Injuries
Practice trigger discipline
Nail guns are popular due to how quickly they can be used. A worker can lay down a long line of nails in a very short amount of time with a nail gun. However, being too trigger-happy could lead to injury if one isn’t careful. This is why a large part of nail gun safety is trigger discipline.
Nail guns come with two different trigger types. Contact tips will fire anytime the nose and trigger are depressed. Sequential guns will only fire if the nose is depressed before the trigger is pulled. These triggers are much safer and help prevent accidental discharges. Also, a good rule of thumb to to never have your finger on the trigger when not using the nail gun.
Watch your aim
Nails gun fire their nails very rapidly and with a lot of force. This allows for them to go through materials like wood with ease, but they also can easily go through a person’s hands or other body parts. Checking your aim is another key part of nail gun safety.
Always make sure that your hands are clear of the nail gun before using it. You should make sure that you don’t aim your nail gun sporadically too. Avoid pointing the gun at yourself or at any other people. Also, give other workers a heads up for when and where you’re going to be using the gun.
Check for problems
Broken or defective tools always pose an increased injury risk. Nail guns are no different. A broken nail gun could misfire or break, causing serious injury to its user. That’s why good nail gun safety means knowing what shape the tools are in.
Try to regularly check your nail gun for any signs of wear or breakage. If you notices any problems, tag the gun as defective and stop using it. It’s always safer to wait for a new gun than to risk using a broken one.