Construction workers in New Jersey face many workplace hazards on a daily basis. One of the most common types of accidents that occur in construction sites are those involving nail guns. Nail gun injuries may be very serious, and some of these accidents result in deaths each year.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that two out of every five carpenters report incurring at least one nail gun injury during their first four years of work. One out of five carpenters report suffering two of these injuries while about 10 percent report three or more nail gun injuries.
Many nail gun injuries are largely preventable, but they happen because of several issues. Accidental discharges of nails from the guns can occur if the worker hits the contact when squeezing the trigger. In other cases, an inexperienced worker applies too much pressure, causing an unintended double firing of the gun. Some workers miss the nailing target and the nail then pierces another worker. In other cases, a nail hits a hard surface, then ricocheting off it and striking a worker. Some accidents happen because workers disable the safety mechanisms on the nail gun.
A work injury can result in catastrophic, life-altering injuries to a worker. Care should be taken by both employers and workers to prevent the risk of such accidents. When a worker is seriously injured in an accident, they may file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Like other employers, construction companies are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance in order to provide for those who are injured on the job. Through a claim, a worker may recoup their medical expenses, needed medical devices and ongoing treatment needs. If they are left disabled, monthly benefits payments may also be available.
