Pneumatic Air Gun Hazards
Pneumatic nail guns produce short (less than a tenth of a second in duration) but loud "impulse" noise peaks: one from driving the nail and one from exhausting the air.
Most nail gun manufacturers recommend users wear hearing protection when using a nailer.
Nail gun noise can vary depending on the gun, the work piece, air pressure, and the work setting. The type of trigger system does not appear to affect the noise level. The sound level from pneumatic nail guns average 94.5 dBA and peak noise emission levels for several nailers can range from 109 to 136 dBA. These loud short bursts can contribute to hearing loss.
Employers should provide hearing protection in the form of earplugs or muffs and make sure they are worn correctly. Employers should also ask about noise levels when buying nail guns.
Methods to reduce nail gun noise include:
- improving the existing nail gun muffler; and
- incorporating a return or exhaust line
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
3-8. What do most nail gun manufacturers recommend users to wear to protect against loud noise peaks?
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