Training

All workers, both new and experienced, can benefit from safety training. Employers should ensure that employees who use nail guns should receive training on the following topics:

• How nail guns work, including how triggers differ
• Main causes of injury
• Instructions provided in manufacturer manuals and where the manuals are kept
• What to do when a nail gun malfunctions
• Company policies and procedures, such as personal protective equipment requirements and injury reporting

In addition, safety training should include a hands-on portion that provides training with the actual nail guns that the workers will be using on the job. Hands-on training should include:

• How to load the nail gun
• How to operate the air compressor
• How to fire the nail gun
• How to hold lumber during placement work
• How to recognize and work with ricochet-prone work surfaces
• How to handle work that requires awkward positioning
• How to handle the risks associated with the specific nail gun in use (such as recoil and double fires)

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