Powder Actuated Tool Safety

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Powder Actuated Tool Safety
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What Is a Powder Actuated Tool?

• A nail gun using a .22 caliber gun shot to propel
  a nail or other anchor into a surface
• Charges and nails are loaded one at a time or on
  automatic strips

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Powder Actuated Tool Uses

• Fasten bottom plate to slab
• Fasten window blocking to CMU opening
• Fasten furring to structural steel

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Fatal Accident

• An employee was fastening laminated decking to a
  bridge. He fired a nail into the decking and it
  ricocheted off of a broken nail already inside
  the decking and struck him in the neck and lodged
  near his heart.

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Fatal Accident

• An employee was using a powder actuated fastener
  to fasten track to a concrete floor. The gun was
  held at an angle, and the nail ricocheted off of
  the concrete floor and struck him in the head.

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Why Safety is a Concern

• High speed projectile
• .22 caliber charges
• Explosion
• Loud noise
• Hard or soft surface

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Possible Injuries with a Powder Actuated Tool

• Projectile- entire body is subject to injury,
  including those nearby
• Debris- in eye
• Noise- ear
• Explosion- hands

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Safety Recommendations

• Be sure you have both feet firmly planted before
  firing
• Be sure barrel is squarely positioned on material
  to be fired into
• Check the material you are firing into for
  anything that could interfere with the nail

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Safety Recommendations

• PPE, including eye protection, hard hat, ear
  plugs, and gloves
• PPE for those within 50 feet of use
• Hang up warning signs to keep others away

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Safety Recommendations

• Use the correct charge for your application
• Make sure the material you are firing into can
  withstand the nail
• Never point the barrel of the nail gun at anyone

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Safety Recommendations

• Never carry unused charges in a pocket or in the
  same container as the nails or other heavy
  objects
• Make sure all charges have been used before
  disposing of a multi-charge strip or disc

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OSHA Regulations

• 1926.302 (e) 1 - Only employees who have been
  trained in the operation of the particular tool
  in use shall be allowed to operate a
  powder-actuated tool.
• 1926.302 (e) 2 The tool shall be tested each
  day before loading to see that safety devices are
  in proper working condition

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OSHA Regulations

• 1926.302 (e) 4 PPE shall be in accordance with
  Subpart E of this part.
• 1926.302 (e) 6 Loaded tools shall not be left
  unattended.
• 1926.302 (e) 10 Tools shall not be used in an
  explosive or flammable atmosphere.

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Manufacturers Safety Classes

• Major manufacturers (Remington, Hilti, Ramset)
  offer safety instruction classes
• Free of charge, they come to you
• Online safety class
• To comply with OSHA 1926.302 (e) 1

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