• The "Contact Trip" mode allows the nail gun to fire when the trigger is pulled and the tip makes contact with any surface. You see this used most often for attaching roof sheathing and shingles. The problem is that as long as your finger is on the trigger, it will fire anytime the tip makes contact with a surface -  including heads, hands, eyes, etc.
• A safer operating system is called the "Sequential Firing" mode which requires the operator to place the tip of the nail gun on a target and then pull the trigger. To shoot another nail, you must follow this sequence every time.
• Most nail guns are sold today with the Contact Tip mode operating system, which contractors tend to like because of it's speed of firing. Again, most nail guns can be set to sequential firing or a conversion kit can be purchased from the manufacturer.

• 42,000 people with nail gun injuries show up at hospital emergency departments annually (more than 100/day!).
• CPSC estimates nail gun injuries cost employers $338 million/year for emergency care, rehab and Workers Compensation.
• An estimated 550 bystanders are injures each year by misfired nail guns.
• Injuries have increased by 300% in the last 10-years.
• More do-it-yourself homeowners are being injured than ever before due to the availability of nail guns at home centers (14,800 in 2005).
• Almost all accidents were due to human error in the use or handling of the nail gun.
• Production vs. safe work practices is an issue.
• 44% of "rookie" nail gun users were injured in 2005.
• Some workers intentionally disable the safety mechanism.

• Use nail guns in the Sequential Firing mode. If the gun is not equipped with this mode, repair or replace it. The time saved in rapid fire isn't worth the risk.
• Review the owner's manual carefully with all operators. Have someone who is familiar with the tool demonstrate safe operating procedures. Then have each employee take a turn on the tool, and watch how each one performs.
• Always wear safety glasses.
• Do not hold the trigger down unless you're purposefully firing the tool. This is especially important when descending ladders.
• Keep people out of range of fire. Exercise extreme caution when using an air tool around another worker.
• Never point the tool at anyone. Treat the tool like a firearm. Never assume the tool is empty.
• Disconnect the air hose before clearing a jam or making adjustments.
• Do not fire the tool unless the nose is firmly pressed against a work piece.
• Use only compressed air to power the tool, not bottled gas. Do not exceed the manufacturer's specified air pressure for the tool, and never exceed 120 psi.
• Keep your free hand safely out of the way of the tool.
• Do not operate the tool around flammables.
• Nail top to bottom when nailing wall sheathing in a vertical position.
• Nail from the eaves to the ridge when nailing roof sheathing, this way you will not back off the edge of the roof.
• Move forward, not backward, when nailing horizontal areas.
• Secure the hose when working on scaffolding, to prevent the weight of the hose from dragging the tool off the scaffold if you set the tool down.

• Pneumatic tools that shoot nails, rivets, staples, or similar fasteners, and operate at pressures more than 100 pounds per square inch (6,890 kPa), must be equipped with a special device to keep fasteners from being ejected unless the muzzle is pressed against the work surface. 
• Pneumatic tools must be checked to see that they are fastened securely to the air hose to prevent them from becoming disconnected. A short wire or positive locking device attaching the air hose to the tool also must be used and will serve as an added safeguard.
• If an air hose is more than 1/2 inch (12.7 millimeters) in diameter, a safety excess flow valve must be installed at the source of the air supply to reduce pressure in case of hose failure.
• In general, the same precautions that are recommended for electric cords should be taken with air hoses, as the hoses are subject to the same kind of damage or accidental striking. An air hose also presents tripping hazards.

• Compressed air guns should never be pointed toward anyone. Workers should never "dead-end" a pneumatic gun against them selves or anyone else. A chip guard must be used when compressed air is used for cleaning.
• Eye protection is required, and head and face protection is recommended, for employees working with pneumatic tools.
• Screens also must be set up to protect nearby workers from being struck by flying fragments around chippers, riveting guns, staplers, or air drills.

• Hearing protection should be worn at all times