First and foremost, always make sure the safety spring is in place.  Like any power tool, this spring was put there for a reason.  Ensuring that it’s secure prevents accidental discharge and greatly lessens the risk of firing into an unintended area (such as your thigh or your co-workers hand).

    And never put the device into “contact-trip mode” unless you absolutely need to.  In this mode, the gun automatically fires whenever it makes contact with a surface.  The only time we recommend using this mode is when no one else is near you and you’re firing a series of nails in a relatively small area that doesn’t require much moving around on your part.

    For those projects that do require moving around, always nail top to bottom or left to right (right to left if you’re left-handed).  Doing so lessens the likelihood of injury and has been shown to increase the user’s alertness of both himself and the area in which he’s working.

    Speaking of area, try to avoid using the tool when working in close quarters with others and never point the tool at someone – no matter how angry you get (common sense here people; the word “gun” is there for a reason.  Treat it like a firearm and always execute extreme caution).

    And since we mentioned common sense, we might as well tell you to always disconnect the gun before making adjustments or trying to clear a jam.  In fact, it should never be hooked up when it’s not in use.  You’d be surprised how many nail gun victims simply didn’t think to turn off the device before messing with it…hey, we’re not judging…