Pennsylvania Code › Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY › Part I - Department of Labor and Industry › Chapter 29 - MECHANICAL APPARATUS-MISCELLANEOUS › Subchapter B - POWDER-ACTUATED TOOLS › GENERAL REQUIREMENTS › Section 29.55 - Safety precautions

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Protective shield.
Powder-actuated tools shall not be used
					 without an approved protective shield or muzzle attachment appropriate for the
					 particular tool and designed to confine flying particles and minimize the
					 possibility of ricocheting of studs, pins, or fragmentation. Only those tools
					 shall be used which cannot be fired without the protective shield, muzzle
					 attachment, or guard in proper place.
(b)
Special protective shield.
When a standard shield or guard cannot be used, or when it does not
					 cover all apparent avenues through which flying particles might escape, a
					 special approved shield or guard fixture of the jig, designed and built by the
					 manufacturer of the tool being used to provide this degree of protection, shall
					 be used as a substitute.
(c)
Cartridge container.
Cartridges of varied charges or force
					 shall be kept separate from each other, and all cartridges shall be kept in
					 original packages completely separated from other contents of the
					 container.
(d)
Misfired
					 cartridges.
Misfired cartridges shall be kept in a separate container
					 immersed in oil or water. They shall be removed from the job site and disposed
					 of each day.
(e)
Tool
					 position.
The tool shall be perpendicular to the material being
					 penetrated at the time of firing, except when protected in accordance with
					 subsections (a) and (b).
(f)
Type of materials.
Projectiles, pins, studs or fasteners shall
					 not be driven into very hard or brittle material including, but not limited to,
					 cast iron, glazed tile, hardened steel, glass block, live rock, fire brick, or
					 hollow tile. Easily pierced material or materials of unknown resistance to
					 piercing shall be backed by a substance that prevents the projectile, stud,
					 pin, or fastener from passing completely through to the other side. No
					 fastening shall be attempted into a spalled area caused by an unsatisfactory
					 fastening.
(g)
Tool
					 handling.
When loading, tools shall be handled in a similar manner to
					 the handling of firearms. Hands should be clear of the open barrel end pointed
					 away from workers and other persons at all times. No unattended tool shall be
					 allowed to remain loaded when not in actual use. No tool shall be loaded unless
					 being prepared for immediate use and, while loaded, such tool shall be kept
					 under the immediate and direct control of the operator.
(h)
Alignment guide.
Pins or
					 studs shall not be driven through existing holes, unless a protective guide is
					 used to secure accurate alignment.
(i)
Inspection.
Before using
					 a tool the operator shall inspect it to determine that it is clean, that all
					 moving parts operate freely and that the barrel is free from obstruction. The
					 breech plug, barrel and its receptacle shall be examined after each firing to
					 locate and remove any foreign material such as pieces of projectile, pins,
					 fastener, stud, flang, cartridge or other fragmentation.
(j)
Explosive charge.
The
					 projectile, pin, stud, fastener, charge and breech plug, shall be prescribed by
					 the manufacturer of the tool for the work to be done and in no event shall the
					 power be such that the projectile, pin, stud, or fastener penetration is beyond
					 that which is prescribed by the manufacturer for the particular job.
(k)
Explosive atmosphere.
Powder-actuated tools shall not be used in an explosive or flammable
					 atmosphere.
(l)
Protection.
Qualified operators and assistants using powder-actuated tools shall
					 be provided with and shall wear approved-type eye protection while using such
					 tools as well as approved head protection when there are obvious hazards from
					 falling objects.
(m)
Maintenance.
Each tool shall be inspected, cleaned, and stored
					 in a safe place with the barrel removed, whenever practical, after each day of
					 use. Immediately upon discovery of any defect in a tool, whether caused by
					 excessive wear or otherwise, the tool shall be removed from service and may not
					 again be used until it has been examined, repaired and approved by a competent
					 representative of the manufacturer. An accurate record of each inspection shall
					 be entered in a report book. The book shall always be kept available for
					 inspection by the duly authorized representative of the Department.
(n)
Warning sign.
A sign, at
					 least 8 inches by 11 inches using bold faced type no less than 1 inch in
					 height, shall be posted in plain sight of all construction projects where the
					 tools are used at all points of access and within a distance of no less than 50
					 feet, the sign to read "Warning-Powder-actuated tools in use within 50 feet."
					 Manufacturers of flip-open type powder-actuated fastener tools shall prepare
					 appropriate warning stickers of the self-adhering type no less than 3 inches by
					 4 inches. The warning sticker shall conform with the following illustration:
Click
						to view image
(o)
Warning requirements.
Each manufacturer may, at his option,
					 substitute a tool resembling his model in place of the model tool drawn into
					 the illustration of subsection (n). The manufacturer shall permit no variances
					 from this warning. The warning stickers shall be placed on the tool box in a
					 conspicuous place inside or outside the box and inserted on all instruction
					 books and service manuals. A question shall be added to the examination of the
					 instructor referring to this requirement. Licensed instructors shall enforce
					 this provision and apprise the training operator of the requirements of this
					 section when demonstrating the tool.
(p)
Use of projectiles.
Tools shall not be used to fire pins, studs, fasteners, or other projectiles
					 for any purpose except as the objects are specifically designed and specified
					 by the manufacturer.
(q)
Misfire.
If a misfire occurs, the operator shall continue to
					 hold the muzzle of the tool against the work in operating position for not less
					 than 30 seconds, and while holding the tool in such position, the operator
					 shall remove the power load. Misfired cartridges or cartridges which fail to
					 explode shall be deposited in a special container for such purpose in
					 accordance with subsection (d) and no attempt shall be made to explode or in
					 any manner use any such cartridge or cartridges.
(r)
Testing.
Each
					 powder-actuated tool shall be tested each day before loading to see that safety
					 devices are in proper working condition. The tests shall be made only by a
					 holder of a qualified operator's license. Tools found with defective parts
					 shall be removed from service immediately and shall not again be used until
					 proper repairs have been completed after following the procedure outlined in
					 subsection (t).
(s)
Distance.
Studs or pins shall not be fired into materials such
					 as brick or concrete, closer than 3 inches from the unsupported edge or corner
					 or into steel surfaces closer than 1/2 inch from the unsupported edge or
					 corner. Tools shall not be operated when their safety devices are
					 ineffective.
(t)
Wear.
Each powder-actuated tool shall be completely dismantled
					 periodically, depending on the type of service and recommendations of the
					 manufacturer. At such times it shall be carefully inspected for wear and the
					 proper operation of all safety devices. If any worn parts are discovered the
					 tool shall be removed from service immediately and shall not be used again
					 until it has been examined, repaired, with worn parts replaced, and approved
					 for use by a duly authorized and qualified representative of the manufacturer
					 of the particular tool. An accurate record of each inspection shall be made,
					 dated, and signed by the employer and a copy forwarded to the
					 Department.
(u)
Carrying
					 devices.
Carrying devices worn by the operator for powder actuated
					 tools may only be used within 50 feet of the immediate fastening being
					 made.
This section cited in 34 Pa. Code §
													29.56 (relating to storage); and
						  34 Pa. Code §
													29.69 (relating to general
						  requirements).