Safety on the brain
Engineering research to assess popular construction tool
Dante Autullo completed what he assumed to be a normal day. He drove a snowplow for eight hours and took his children to their play rehearsal.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Except he had a three-and-a-half-inch metal spike lodged in his brain.
Earlier that day in 2012, Autullo had been working in his garage when he lost control of a nail driver, hitting it against his head. He didn’t think much of the small scratch until 36 hours later when the nail was removed. Autullo suffered no long-term damage.
A simple Google search reveals many stories and pictures similar to Autullo’s incident. Are accidents like this a rarity or are nail drivers a serious hazard at work sites?
In the coming months, Marquette University students will have the opportunity to understand more about the construction industry’s most popular tool.
Dr. Richard Marklin and Dr. Mark Nagurka, professors of mechanical engineering, are preparing to conduct a thorough analysis of pneumatic nail drivers.
These tools are widely used during various stages of construction. Marklin and Nagurka are working with nine different types of pneumatic drivers to assess their safety and prepare for a larger research project.
Pneumatic nail drivers use pressurized air to drive nails into structures. They are used for different applications, such as roofing, framing or finishing. In their lab in Engineering Hall, Marklin and Nagurka are studying the nail drivers from different companies.
“This project is our first in looking at pneumatic nail drivers in terms of design,” Nagurka explained.
With differing uses, the designs and functions of each nail driver are different. Accounting for the intended use alongside comparing the safety of the nail drivers will be an important part of the research.
While the advances in the tool’s technology have increased productivity on job sites, the safety of the nail drivers remains a concern. The research Marklin and Nagurka hope to conduct will measure the various nail drivers to see how they work and their safety levels.
“This isn’t a minor project in terms of impact,” Marklin explained. Residential construction plays an important role in the country’s economy so making sure the tools at these sites are safe, as well as efficient, can have wide-reaching effects.
The study is sponsored by the International Staple, Nail and Tool Association (ISANTA). Marklin noted that having an international association behind the study is crucial to keep the research objective.
“It’s not a funded research project from one company,” Marklin said. “It’s a bird’s-eye view of the industry.”
So far Marklin and Nagurka have completed initial background work. The first step was analyzing over 30 peer-reviewed articles on pneumatic nail driver safety in the workplace. The second was visiting job sites to conduct surveys of the tool’s users.
In order to better understand and assess each nail driver, Marklin built devices for testing them in-house in Engineering Hall.
The first piece is a series of boards aligned vertically to resemble a wall. The second is designed to act as a roof, which can be set up at an angle. These components are designed to simulate how the nail drivers are used in the field so that the measurements will be realistic.
Marklin and Nagurka plan to continue the research project this fall with the help of Marquette students. It will be an opportunity for students to gain research as well as industry experience in a practical way by working alongside Marklin and Nagurka.
Research and reporting by Wyatt Massey, a junior studying writing-intensive English and advertising. Connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn.
