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OSHA Pneumatic Requirements

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) "ensures safe and healthful working conditions ... by setting and enforcing standards," according to OSHA's mission statement on the "About OSHA" web page. Some standards it enforces regulate the use of pneumatic equipment, including air guns, air spray guns and other air-powered tools. Regulations cover incoming and output line pressures, blowing off debris with air pressure and air hose size pressure requirements.

  1. Tool Regulations

    • The Code of Federal Regulations, specifically 29 CFR, sets out OSHA guidelines and standards. This regulation provides a global requirement for hand and power tools. All hand and power tools, regardless of who supplies the tools, shall be maintained in a safe condition. Tools designed with guards must be equipped with guards when in use.

    Air Pressure

    • A pneumatic nail gun is an example of an OSHA-regulated air gun. In addition to meeting OSHA guarding standards, the regulation cites connecting air power tools to an air source to prevent disconnection. It calls for safety clips securely installed on pneumatic percussion tools to prevent expelling attachments. Pneumatically-driven tools such as nailers, operating at an air pressure at more than 100 pounds per square inch, must have a safety device on the muzzle. The muzzle must contact the work surface before a fastener ejects.

    Air Chip Guard

    • When using air pressure to clean something, reduce compressed air to 30 pounds per square inch or less. Wear effective chip-guarding and personal protective equipment, such as protective goggles. When an air gun tip is blocked, the 30 pounds per square inch requirement also applies. OSHA defined "effective chip-guarding" in 1978 as any method or equipment preventing a chip or particle of any size from blowing into the eyes or unbroken skin of a tool operator or other worker.

    Safe Operating Procedure

    • OSHA air-powered tools regulations also prohibit exceeding a manufacturer's safe operating pressure for hoses, valves, fittings, and filters. For all hoses larger than half an inch inside diameter, regulations mandate a safety device at the source of air pressure supply to reduce pressure in case of hose failure.

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