Incident Insight: Hand Injury from Pneumatic Staple Gun

Kinsey Donner, CSP
Aug 19
2 min read

On Friday, a team member sustained a recordable injury while using a pneumatic staple gun. During the task, the employee’s index finger was accidentally stapled to a piece of wood, pinning their hand in place until a co-worker was able to cut the staple free. Unfortunately, the staple fractured the bone in the employee’s finger. A full investigation is underway to determine the root causes of the incident.

This is the third hand injury involving a staple or screw in the past month, and so far this year, we’ve recorded seven puncture injuries. These incidents highlight the importance of slowing down, thinking through our tasks, and following safety procedures when using power tools.

Key Reminders When Using Power Tools

1. Secure the material.

The injured employee was holding two boards together with one hand while using the tool with the other. Always use clamps, a vise, or ask a co-worker for assistance—never your free hand.

2. Watch your hand placement.

Keep hands away from the point of operation. Never place fingers near where a staple, nail, or screw will exit.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready.

One previous injury occurred when an employee held a staple gun with their finger on the trigger. The tool fired when it contacted their wrist. Always keep your finger away from the trigger unless you are actively fastening.

4. Slow down.

Feeling rushed leads to mistakes. Pause, plan your work, and work the plan. A few extra seconds can prevent a serious injury.

5. Use Stop Work Authority.

If a tool is malfunctioning or a task requires more than one person, stop and notify your lead or supervisor immediately. Never continue work if it feels unsafe.

Safety Starts with Us

Hand injuries from staple guns, nailers, and other fastening tools are preventable when the right precautions are taken. Let’s make sure we are all protecting ourselves and each other by practicing safe work habits every time we pick up a power tool.