Carpentry & Framing
Framers build the skeleton of a building fast, often at height, with nail guns and saws running all day. Falls, nail gun injuries and saw cuts are the biggest risks.
- Construction
- Residential
Photo: framing crew setting trusses with fall protection
Top hazards
- Falls from walls, floor edges, roof trusses and openings
- Nail gun injuries. See Nail Guns.
- Saw cuts and kickback. See Circular Saws.
- Walls or trusses falling during raising or in wind
- Strains from lifting walls, sheathing and beams
Key practices
- Plan fall protection for every phase: floor edges, stair openings, walls, trusses and roofs. Residential construction requires fall protection at 6 feet.
- Install guardrails or covers on floor openings and stairwells right away.
- Brace walls temporarily and install truss bracing per the truss manufacturer.
- Raise walls with enough people or a wall jack; keep people clear of the fall path.
- Use full sequential trigger nailers.
- Watch the wind when sheathing roofs and setting trusses.
Fall protection by phase
| Phase | Common protection |
|---|---|
| Floor decks | Guardrails on edges, covers on stair and chase openings |
| Wall framing | Raise walls from the floor, keep window openings guarded on upper floors |
| Setting trusses | Truss anchors with personal fall arrest, or set trusses from scaffolds or lifts; install permanent and temporary bracing as you go |
| Sheathing roofs | Roof anchors with fall arrest, roof brackets and planks on steep pitches |
| Exterior trim and siding | Scaffolds, pump jacks or lifts. See Pump Jacks |
See Working on Roofs and Holes & Floor Openings.
Nail gun safety in brief
- Use a full sequential trigger (the nose must be pressed before each pull). Contact (bump) triggers cause many more injuries.
- Keep your free hand at least 12 inches from the nailing point.
- Watch for knots, metal straps and toe-nailing, where nails can ricochet or blow through.
- Disconnect air before clearing jams or walking away.
Start-of-day checklist
- Fall protection plan for today’s phase in place
- Floor openings covered and edges guarded
- Nailers and saws inspected; guards working
- Temporary bracing on walls and trusses
- Wind forecast checked before sheathing or setting trusses
- Safety glasses and hearing protection on
Standards & references
- 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13): Residential construction fall protection
- OSHA: Fall protection in residential construction
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