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  4.  » Do nail guns pose safety threats to construction workers?

Do nail guns pose safety threats to construction workers?

| May 5, 2016 | Construction Workers' Accidents, Firm News |

Construction workers throughout New York use a variety of dangerous tools in order to get the job done. These tools help speed up the construction process and can take away some of the hard work the construction workers would otherwise need to do manually. In fact, some New York construction projects would not be able to get off the ground without the use of heavy machinery.

While the dangers of heavy machinery might be obvious to some, construction site injuries aren’t only caused by large machines. In fact, smaller more common tools also lead to workplace injuries for construction workers. One example is the nail gun. Construction workers, particularly in residential construction, often use nail guns to complete their project.

At first glance it may not seem like nail guns pose a huge risk to workers. However, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration nail gun injuries are some of the most common types of injuries for construction workers. In fact, one study showed that two out of every five carpenter apprentices in residential construction were injured by a nail gun over a four-year period. The study also showed that many of these injuries went unreported.

These injuries come from a variety of different types of accidents. Some people are injured as a nail penetrates through a piece of lumber. However, other people are injured when the gun is unintentionally triggered. Accidents also occur when nails ricochet from a hard surface, or if the nail misses the workpiece altogether.

There are many steps that construction workers can take to avoid workplace injuries. These include wearing the correct types of protective gear and slowing down on the work site. Construction sites should also provide training to show people how to safely trigger and use nail guns.

When an accident involving a nail gun occurs, construction workers may have legal rights. By reporting the incident, the worker may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can help cover medical expenses and lost wages resulting from the workplace accident.

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