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Musculoskeletal concerns do not justify failure to use safer sequential trigger to prevent acute nail gun injuries
Author(s) -
Lipscomb Hester J.,
Nolan James,
Patterson Dennis
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22426
Subject(s) - medicine , safer , musculoskeletal injury , risk assessment , injury prevention , poison control , occupational safety and health , nail (fastener) , human factors and ergonomics , physical therapy , medical emergency , computer security , pathology , alternative medicine , materials science , computer science , metallurgy
Background Acute nail gun injuries can be controlled significantly by using tools with sequential triggers and training. Concern has been raised that sequential triggers, which require that the nose piece of the gun be depressed prior to pulling the trigger, could increase risk of musculoskeletal problems. Methods We conducted active injury surveillance among union carpenter apprentices to monitor acute injuries and musculoskeletal disorders between 2010 and 2013. Results Acute injury risk was 70% higher with contact trip rather than sequential triggers. Musculoskeletal risk was comparable (contact trip 0.09/10,000 hr (95% CI, 0.02–0.26); sequential 0.08/ 10,000 hr (95% CI 0.02–0.23)). Conclusions Concern about excess risk of musculoskeletal problems from nail guns with sequential triggers is unwarranted. Both actuation systems carry comparable musculoskeletal risk which is far less than the risk of acute injury; there is clearly no justification for failure to prevent acute injuries through use of the safer sequential trigger. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:422–427, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.