Tagging Gun Safety

A tagging gun is a gadget that is widely used in the retail industry for attaching labels to fabric items, such as garments, curtains and upholstered furniture. A stainless steel needle attached to the nose of the gun shoots out a plastic tag that goes through both the label and the material.

Risks

• Tagging gun needles are very sharp, so there is a danger of them accidentally piercing someone's skin. This is most likely to occur either when a new needle is being loaded, or when the gun is being used irresponsibly.

Consequences

• If the person whose skin is pierced is carrying an infection, such as Hepatitis B or HIV, blood-borne pathogens could be transferred to the needle. If someone else's skin is then punctured, the infection can be carried into their bloodstream.

Prevention

• Each employee should be assigned his own tagging gun, and companies should educate staff members about the dangers. Users should ensure that the needle guard is always in place when the gun is being carried, or when it is not in use. Leather gloves can be worn when using the gun to prevent accidents. Guns should be disinfected regularly, and needles disposed of safely.