Scott's Web Log

Science News May 26, 2007 has a note about increased incidence of nail-gun injuries. It reports that between 2001 and 2005 roughly 37,000 people annually were treated for injuries from pneumatic nail-guns. "Nails driven into hands or fingers accounted for two-thirds of the wounds."

Figures for "weekend carpenters" increased from 4,200 in 1991 to nearly 15,000 in this latest period. The article notes that most such accidents occur among professionals but that "their mishap rate has held steady since such data on workers' injuries were first collected in 1998".

Science News cites:
Lipscomb, H.J., and L.L. Jackson. 2007. Nail-gun injuries treated in emergency departments—United States, 2001–2005. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 56(April 13):329-332. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5614a2.htm

I can well believe this as I spend a fair amount of time working in the "tool corral" at my local Home Depot and I've sold alot of nail guns and compressors. More than a few customers don't know what nails to load the guns with let alone have experience using them. They just want to put that molding on as fast as possible. I guess it's quicker to shoot your thumb with a nail gun than it is to hit it with a hammer.