Nail gun incidents prompt safety warning

Mar 4th 2022 | Stephen Kariahe

Nail gun incidents prompt safety warning

Nail Gun Incidents Prompt Safety Warning

SafeWork SA is reminding PCBUs in the residential construction sector to ensure apprentice carpenters who use any type of nail gun receive proper training, after four apprentices suffered nail gun injuries last month. These four incidents highlight how hazardous nail guns can be on construction sites when correct procedures aren't followed.

What Happened: Four Separate Construction Injuries

SafeWork SA reported a fourth-year apprentice suffered serious injuries to his thigh after shooting himself while kneeling. This incident happened on 25 February 2022.

In a second case, a first-year apprentice was constructing wall frames when his nail gun fired a nail into his right thigh above the knee, resulting in another among several construction site injuries reported that month.

A third incident saw a second-year apprentice receive a penetration wound to his right index finger after a nail struck a knot while he was building a wall frame — a risk that even experienced tradespeople face during framing work.

Earlier in the month, a first-year apprentice suffered a knee injury after his nail gun actuator triggered unexpectedly, firing a nail into his left knee. Each case underlines why care around trigger mechanisms remains critical on any construction jobsite, whether during framing, fit-out, or demolition preparation.

Why Bump Fire Mode Increases Risk

Reminding duty holders of their obligations, SafeWork SA says most nail gun incidents occur when nail guns are set to bump fire mode. Bump firing allows a nail to discharge simply by contact pressure, raising risk of accidental or unintended firing far above that of sequential systems.

"The type of nail gun trigger system and the extent of training are important factors in reducing injuries," SafeWork SA said. "A full sequential trigger is always the safest trigger mechanism for the job."

Reducing Risk Through Training and Correct Trigger Selection

Apprentices and qualified carpenters alike benefit from structured training that covers trigger selection, safe positioning, and hazard awareness before operating powered nailing equipment. PCBUs carry a duty of care to confirm workers understand these controls, particularly on residential builds where framing work carries elevated risk of penetration injuries.

Consistent supervision and clear documentation, such as a Nail Gun SOP or a Nail-Staple Gun (Pneumatic) SWMS, help construction businesses demonstrate care in managing this equipment. These documents reinforce safe operating sequences and reduce reliance on informal, on-the-job instruction alone.

Beyond nailing tools, construction crews routinely face other hazardous equipment risks, including electrical hazards from power tools and site wiring, electrical faults in temporary switchboards, and electrical hazards during demolition of older structures. Demolition sites in particular combine multiple hazards — structural instability, electrical services still connected, and hazardous materials — making thorough risk assessments essential before work begins.

Health and safety outcomes on construction sites improve when PCBUs treat nail gun risk with the same rigour applied to electrical isolation procedures, demolition planning, and other high-risk construction activities. A single lapse in trigger discipline, much like a single electrical fault, can cause injuries that sideline apprentices for weeks.

Nail gun incidents prompt safety warning