Air Nailer Safety Rules

Eye Protection

Wear shatter resistant eye protection. Goggles are best but glasses will do. Glasses do not prevent entry to the eye area from the top, sides or bottom, whereas goggles do. Nails and staples can ricochet off hard surfaces or fly out of the material being nailed if they hit something hard, like another nail. A flying nail can easily puncture an eye if it can reach it.

According to OSHA, safety glasses with side protection provide the minimum protection required. Safety goggles are better and reduce blindness causing accidents significantly. Choose goggles with side venting and anti-fog coating for more comfort and a higher safety margin.

X-ray of the nail going through the hand.

Do not disable the safety mechanism on an air nailer. This includes keeping your finger off the trigger when you are not using the nailer. Despite this warning, every year people using air nailers end up in emergency wards and operating rooms with nails in their bodies.

Use a single shot nailer. Air nailers come with two types of safeties. The first is the single shot. This type of safety mechanism allows only a single nail to be fired for each pull of the trigger and each depression of the nose. You must press the nose against the material and pull the trigger for the nailer to fire. Repeating nailers allow you to pull the trigger and hold it. Each time you press the nose against an object, another nail is fired. This is unnecessary for the average home user. Many nailers come with conversion kits or you can order them for a minimal charge.

Know the maximum safe operating pressure of your nailer and never exceed it. Parts that fail suddenly under extreme pressure can explode and send shrapnel flying in all directions, injuring bystanders and the operator. Use a compressor that allows you to set the maximum outlet pressure or install an adjustable regulator. Staying under the maximum air pressure is not only safe, it will make your tool last longer as well.

Use nails manufactured specifically for your air nailer. There are a number of different manufacturers of air nailers who develop their products for specific purposes. Using nails manufactured for one type of nailer in a different type may result in injury to yourself or others, and damage to the air nailer.

The air nailer is not a toy. Treat it like a gun ready to go off. Maintain your equipment and follow maintenance schedules. Don't use air nailers with broken or faulty mechanisms. Inspect your air compressor, air hose and air nailer frequently and replace hoses, connectors and other worn parts.

Point the exhaust port away from your face and other workers or bystanders. Never use bottled air or other gases to operate the tool. Disconnect your nailer from the air supply when you are not using it.

Do not use the nailer for a job it wasn't intended for. Keep your hands away from the nailer head when using it. Use clamps if you have to hold a piece close to the head. Each manufacturer publishes safety rules with their air nailers. Read and understand these safety rules before using your tool.