From Science Daily on the Internet:
Consumer Nail Gun Injuries Spike
Science Daily — According to new statistics that would make Bob Vila cringe, the number of injuries from nail guns has almost doubled since 2001. And researchers say that more and more it is do-it-yourselfers who are feeling the pain.
In fact, the number of weekend carpenters treated each year for nail gun injuries in emergency rooms in U.S. hospitals more than tripled between 1991 and 2005, increasing to about 14,800 per year, according to an analysis by researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
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“The increases in injuries are likely related to availability of these tools on the consumer market and the steady decline in the costs of tools and air compressors,” Lipscomb said. “The frequency of such injuries that are treated in emergency departments in professional workers have remained relatively flat; however, the tools are now readily accessible to consumers, extending what has been largely an occupational hazard to the general public.”
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Injuries to consumers and workers largely involve puncture wounds to the hands and fingers, with wounds to the forearms, wrists, legs and feet less common. Of the injured consumers and workers, 6 percent were admitted to the hospital, while the others were treated in the emergency department and released.
About 96 percent of the injured consumers were male, with an average age of 35. Lipscomb believes the widespread adoption of safer sequential-trip triggers could reduce the number of injuries, both for professional and weekend carpenters.
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Lipscomb recommends that consumers purchase nail guns with a sequential-trip trigger or purchase kits to convert their current nail gun triggers to the safer type.
“The increased production of new nail guns with the sequential-trip trigger and the availability of conversion kits at home improvement centers will hopefully go a long way toward reducing injuries,” Lipscomb said.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070413100746.htm
Replies
Ya just gotta train em young.
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“When politicians and journalists declare that the science of global warming is settled, they show a regrettable ignorance about how science works.” Nigel Calder, editor of New Scientist
Or just teach them all how to screw instead.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
No worries, by average age 35, most males have perfected screwing, but mistakes are extremely costly.
Where the safety glasses? The safety shoes?
Seems kinda' young for a HO
Forrest
He learned the "safety squint" from dad.“When politicians and journalists declare that the science of global warming is settled, they show a regrettable ignorance about how science works.” Nigel Calder, editor of New Scientist
CaseyR
Now drop the other shoe,, please!
Smashed fingers, broken bones caused by DIYers using hammers wrong has also gone down..
Yeh, there is a trade off.
There should be a law...
against DIYer's.