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Today's Nail Gun Story Is Not That Uncommon!

Todays Health Article

January 21st, 2011

Todays top story regarding a nail gun, is not that uncommon, but this person is just lucky to be alive! Many have carried this story due to the humor added and due to the near life and death consequences of this accident. Praise God he has recovering and all is being excepted, on such a light note. Yet, many accidents such as this one, appear more often than not. Yes, it can be a serious health issue and considering that most nails that go through a nail gun are contaminated with dirt and oil to maintain the gun, as well as the force of air. This person may or may not deal with other issues. My Prayers go with him and his family. I have included a news release below.

.News for nail in the head guy

Man, 32, shoots 3.5in nail into his head and doesn’t notice for …

Daily Mail‎ – 5 hours ago

By Daily Mail Reporter A man accidentally fired a nail into his head as he was doing some handiwork around his Chicago home. Dante Autullo believed he …

Why a Nail Gun?

They are commonly called a nail gun, nailgun or nailer. The Nail Gun is a type of tool used to drive nails into wood or many other kinds of material. The nail gun can be driven by electromagnetism, compressed air (pneumatic), highly flammable gases such as butane or propane, or, for powder-actuated tools, a small explosive charge.

The whole purpose of such tools was to replace the common hammers used and to speed up the use of many construction activities needed for building or finish work. Nail guns were at one time, just found in the tool boxes of framers and finish work contractors. Today more and more so, have found their way into the hands of the weekend handyman and even lady hobbyist.

The Problem Is….

The average person has no clue how powerful some of these Nail Guns can be. When I first acquired a Hitachi Propane Nail gun, because I was tired of dragging the air hose up and down the ladder, my arm ached by the end of the day from the recoil this gun had. To my surprise I could drive ring shank nails into the concrete as well, eliminating my cartridge ( 22 bullet) to fasten the wood to the concrete. But if you think about that for a minute, what other tool has the power to do that. Nail guns drive their nails, pins, brads, or finish nails at the touch of the sensor at the end of the gun or by the squeeze of their trigger.

The first Setting just mentioned is where most people go wrong!

The understanding that if this sensor touches either the base or the head, if the Nail gun is set up to fire a nail by touch, that is exactly what it does…and it will not only fire one nail but perhaps more depending on the movement created by the touch.You could compare it to a Hair trigger on a LOADED revolver or having the trigger wired back… SENSITIVE TO THE TOUCH! So if the gun is laying down and you happen to have it on, loaded with the air or gas, and walk by touching it with your foot… you now have a nail in your foot. Many of those who began using the nail gun had experienced a nail in the foot from this very action. I use to hear about this all the time. That is just one illustration of how this kind of accident can quickly happen.For those who are too lazy to pull the trigger and choose the touch setting…this is the risk you take. The other is not holding it properly to the material and releasing flying nails that can become as dangerous, breaking things in its path.

The Latter Option… Trigger

All of the nail guns that I know of, and I have owned several and still do, have the option that once the pressure is applied to the tool, you then have to squeeze the trigger to release the nail. I have made this choice, though it may require a little more energy on my part, not quite as quick, it is much safer in the long run. There are not nails being released when the end of the nail gun accidentally touches your body or others. It also will not fire if the angle is too great, but still can ricoshay if the head is incorrect and cause damage.

For further clarification and safety…http://www.osha.gov/Publications/NailgunFinal_508_02_optimized.pdf

Nail Guns are Causing several Injuries

One report indicated there were approximately 36,000 reported injuries due to nail guns. Of this number approximately 3.9% of all workers compensation claims in the U.S. last year were a result of injuries to workers caused by nail gun accidents. Among those workers injured by a nail gun last year, as many as 25.5 percent involved paid… lost work time. According to a new study from State of Washington.

The study reported that the hands and fingers were the most commonly injured parts of the body. Actually anywhere from 80-to-89 percent of all injuries from nail guns are being puncture wounds to the hands and fingers from the nails.

In fact, more than 70% of all nail gun injuries at residential work-sites occur during the wood framing and sheathing stage of construction.

Approximately 69% of puncture injuries caused by nail guns are due to what the Home Builders Association of America calls: “Inadvertent gun discharge, or misfire, most of which, according to the Association, are preventable by the use of sequential triggers.

Safety and Solution

The best advise given for these tools is to read the instruction manual before using…that is the first step! I believe my dad’s advice “Any tool can be harmful if used incorrectly or not understood!” Many times application, improperly. leads to these accidents. Short cuts can prove to be fatal. Most people who use these tools have no respect or understand how dangerous a nail gun can be if used improperly.

The training and education of workers who use these tool are vitally important components to prevent serious injury, or worse, but what about the weekend handyman?

For you who fall into this category… think about what a nail gun is designed to do! Nail guns are powerful tools that are able to drive pointy pieces of steel through the hardest surfaces, even concrete and steel.

It does not take too much of imagination to imagine the damage these devices can do to the soft tissue and bones of a your body!

Todays Health Comments

Today accidents from nail guns are not that uncommon, with 36,000 being reported and I am sure there may be equally that amount not. Those who have no medical coverage and treat their foot or hands with their home care. Only those so serious such as a nail to the head grabs people’s attention…some might find that humorous, I find it disturbing that people have to have their lives endangered before attention is given. I seriously believe that the average person who is given a loaded gun might shoot themselves if they do not understand that it actually has a safety to prevent that and not carry a bullet in the chamber. There is little difference in the use of a Nail Gun, use it appropriately for the tool it is and treat it like a loaded gun, DO NOT POINT IT AT ANYONE, NOR YOURSELF AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND. If you do this you certainly will lessen the odds of an accident!