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Nail Gun Safety
Overview
"Nail guns are powerful.... They are responsible for an estimated 37,000 emergency room visits each year — 68% of these involve workers."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nail guns are used every day on many construction jobs. They boost productivity but also cause tens of thousands of serious injuries each year. Nail gun injuries are common - one study found that 2 out of 5 residential carpenter apprentices experienced a nail gun injury over a four-year period. Injuries resulting from use of nail guns hospitalize more construction workers than any other tool-related injury. When they do occur, these injuries are often not reported or given proper medical treatment. Research has identified that the risk of a nail gun injury is twice as high when using a multi-shot contact trigger as when using a single-shot sequential trigger nailer.
Compliance Assistance
Provides information about nail gun safety compliance.
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Training
Provides materials and training for nail gun safety.
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Regulations
Provides regulations and letters of interpretation regarding nail gun safety.
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Additional Resources
Provides ancillary information regarding nail gun safety.
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Highlights
- Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors (EPUB | MOBI). OSHA Publication 3459, (2011). Also available in Spanish (EPUB | MOBI).
- Straight Talk About Nail Gun Safety. NIOSH Publication Number 2013-149, (June 2013).
- Nail Gun Safety: The Facts. The Duke University and Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR).
Videos
- Know Your Nailer: Nail Gun Safety NIOSH (2016).
Workers' Rights
Workers have the right to:
- Working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm.
- Receive information and training (in a language and vocabulary the worker understands) about workplace hazards, methods to prevent them, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace.
- Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses.
- File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their workplace if they believe there is a serious hazard or that their employer is not following OSHA's rules. OSHA will keep all identities confidential.
- Exercise their rights under the law without retaliation, including reporting an injury or raising health and safety concerns with their employer or OSHA. If a worker has been retaliated against for using their rights, they must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days.
For additional information, see OSHA's Workers page.
How to Contact OSHA
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to help ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.