Tri Span, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jul 19, 2001: Employee injured when thigh impaled by pneumatic nail gun

On July 19, 2001, Employee #1 was impaled in his upper thigh with a 3.25-inch na il from a pneumatic nail gun while installing studs eight feet above the floor. As part of a multi-million dollar renovation program, each classroom of the scho ol was to be totally enclosed. The gaps in the upper ceiling which joined the ai rspace of all classrooms were going to be closed off. This work entailed the ins tallation of studs of varying heights to support the gabled roof and the drywall . The work was being conducted on top of a series of cabinets, which lined one s ide of the room, 8 feet from the floor. Employee #1, the framer, started his wor k from the center and worked his way to the end where he would install a 10-inch stud. This particular work area had a very limited work space. As Employee #1 p ositioned himself to install the last piece, he pulled the air hose towards him to gain more line. This one quick tug was done, however, with the gun still in h is hand and his finger still in the trigger cage. As he pulled the hose, with th e gun pointed towards his thigh, he depressed the push lever and his finger pull ed the trigger. The gun discharged a 3.25-inch nail into the area between his pe lvis and thigh. Employee #1 was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surger y and stayed for more than 24 hours.