A nail gun sold at Walmart has been recalled. That ‘involuntary discharge’ can really hurt
A nail gun sold at Walmart has been recalled because it can “involuntarily discharge.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nail guns are responsible for about 37,000 emergency room visits every year in the U.S. Of those, 68% involve workers and 32% involve consumers.
“Severe nail gun injuries have led to construction worker deaths. Fortunately, these injuries can be prevented,” the CDC said.
Here’s one way in which they can be prevented: issue a recall when one of the brands malfunctions.
So that’s what the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission did in issuing a recall on the Hart 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailers brand of nailguns sold at Walmarts across the country.
Why is there a nailer recall?
According to the recall alert posted Nov. 10, the contact sensor on the Brad Nailers unit “can malfunction and involuntarily discharge a nail, posing a risk of serious injury to the user or bystanders.”
About 15,700 nailers are in the recall. Walmart sold the nail guns at its retail stores nationwide and through its website from April 2021 through September 2021 for between $130 and $160.
The Hart 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailers were made by Techtronic Industries Vietnam Manufacturing Co, which is based in Vietnam. Hart Consumer Products is based in Anderson, South Carolina.
As of the recall date, there have been no reported injuries.
What you should do
Check your nailer if you bought, or have, this brand. The recall involves Hart 18-Gauge 2” Brad Nailers with model numbers HPNR01, HPNR01B, HPNR01B-SK or HPNR01BNCA.
The white, blue and black handheld tool has the name HART in caps on the side of the nailer in white type on a black background and has “18ga BRAD NAILER” on the side of the nail tray/magazine in white type on a blue background. The model numbers are on the side of the nail tray/magazine where you load the nails.
Is that a match? If so, stop using the recalled nailer, the CPSC says, and return it to any Walmart store for a refund.
Concerned it could fire off when you’re heading to the store? According to the CPSC, consumers can also return the nailer for free by mail via a scheduled home pickup. To schedule a free pickup, call 800-776-5191.
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 4:23 PM with the headline "A nail gun sold at Walmart has been recalled. That ‘involuntary discharge’ can really hurt."
