Researchers and doctors have been saying for years that they've seen a steady rise in serious injuries from nail guns -- tools that are standard in the construction industry. But
The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee found that agencies that are supposed to be looking after the public's safety have done little to make these tools safer.
The Bee's work includes lots of online interactive elements.
The story says that at least 100 people a day show up at U.S. hospitals with nail gun injuries. The injuries don't just happen to workers; they can also happen to bystanders who get hit by flying nails, which travel at 490 feet per second, according to the
Bee.The
Bee did a very nice job turning this story into a multimedia interactive project. It is particularly useful for folks who may not know what these tools do or why workers love them. Make no mistake, these things are widely used. In fact, I have recently seen nail guns that do not need to be hooked up to heavy air tanks. They operate instead with pressurized canisters that hook to your belt -- perfect for the weekend backyard project.
The
Bee's project includes:
Here is a link to a 2007 story I wrote about the rise of nail gun injuries. The story highlights some government studies about the problem.
