PPE

Eye protection should be worn any time work operations can cause foreign objects to get in the eye, including while nailing. High-impact eye protection marked ANSI Z87.1 should be worn by all workers using nail guns or working in areas where nail guns are being used by others. This eye protection can come in the form of safety glasses or safety goggles:

• Safety spectacles: These protective eyeglasses have safety frames made of metal or plastic and impact-resistant lenses. Workers are required to use safety spectacles with side shields when there is a hazard from flying objects.
• Safety goggles: This tight-fitting personal protection equipment completely covers the eyes, eye sockets, and the facial area immediately surrounding the eyes. They provide protection from impacts, dust, and splashes. Some goggles will fit over corrective lenses.

Hard Hats

Protecting employees from potential head injuries is an important part of any nail gun safety program because head injuries can impact the brain, eyes, nose, and mouth. A head injury can permanently impair or even kill an employee. Wearing a safety helmet or hard hat is one of the easiest ways to protect a worker's head from injury. Hard hats should be routinely inspected for dents, cracks, or deterioration. Because even minor damage decreases the effectiveness of hard hats, they should be replaced as soon as damage is discovered.

Hearing Protection

As we have already discussed, the bursts of noise produced by nail guns can contribute to hearing loss, so it is important to use proper hearing protection, which can come in various forms:

• Single-use earplugs are made of waxed cotton, foam, silicone rubber, or fiberglass wool. They are self-forming and, when properly inserted, they work as well as individually fitted earplugs. Earplugs should be cleaned or replaced regularly.
• Earmuffs require a perfect seal around the ear. Glasses, facial hair, long hair, or facial movements such as chewing may reduce the protective value of earmuffs. The earmuff cushion must form a seal against the head all around the ear and not rest against any part of the outer ear.

Note that OSHA sets legal limits on noise exposure in the workplace. OSHA's permissible exposure limit is 90 dBs (decibels) for all workers for an 8 hour day. The OSHA standard uses a 5 dBs exchange rate, meaning that when the noise level is increased by 5 dBs, the amount of time a person can be exposed to a certain noise level to receive the same dose is cut in half.

Please also note that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends that all noise exposure should be limited to a level below 85 dBs.

To learn more about Nail Gun Safety visit our Construction Nail Gun Safety Online Training web page.