Construction Worker Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Eye With Nail Gun, Then Pulls It Out

AP ^ | 3.4.05

[ambrose]

Man Shoots Eye With Nail Gun, Pulls It Out

Construction Worker Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Eye With Nail Gun, Then Pulls It Out

The Associated Press

Mar. 4, 2005 - A construction worker accidentally shot himself in the eye with a nail gun and then pulled the 2 1/2-inch nail out of his face, according to a police report and a co-worker.

Joseluis Franco, 19, was using an air-powered, Hitachi nail gun to help build a home Wednesday when a nail bounced back and lodged in his eye, crew leader Rogelio Ocampo said. Franco was nailing a two-by-four to concrete when the nail ricocheted.

Franco was conscious when police arrived at the scene and was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where he was treated and released. Police said Friday they don't know the condition of Franco's eye.

Originally from a town near Acapulco, Mexico, Franco has been in the construction business for about three weeks, Ocampo said.

"I don't know what's going to happen to him," Ocampo said. "I don't know if the insurance is going to cover his bills or anything."

[Charles Henrickson]

Construction Worker Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Eye With Nail Gun, Then Pulls It Out

The eye, the nail, or the gun?

[One Proud Son]

Tough bastard.

[Quixotical]

good point

[dennisw]

Doing the nail gunning Americans are too lazy and unmotivated to do. FWIW Mexicans (legal-illegal) are taking over a lot of the home construction business. They do all the roofing here along with some Black Caribbeans

[TheWriterInTexas]

Dang!

People around me turned white when I pulled a staple out of the palm of my hand. I was helping a friend hang some insulation, set the "easy shot" staple gun down to adjust it, picked the gun up, braced it with my palm, and "blam!"

Only problem was, there was no staple in the insulation. Pried the staple out with a screwdriver, slapped some peroxide and a bandaid on my palm, and went back to work. Meanwhile, folks were turning pale around me and couldn't watch.

I can only imagine what the response would have been if something this dramatic had happened!

[blackbart.223]

"The eye, the nail, or the gun?"

The death of the English language as we know it.

[upchuck]

Was he wearing these?
  

[punster]

Why was he not wearing eye protection?

[Samwise]

A good friend of mine fell on one of those pointy metal things that stores hang things on. It went right into her eye. She pulled it out and called her husband (not 9-11). She never lost consciousness. I can barely keep from passing out when I think about it.

[GeronL]

Franco has been in the construction business for about three weeks, Ocampo said

yikes.

[X-FID]

Originally from a town near Acapulco, Mexico, Franco has been in the construction business for about three weeks, Ocampo said.

Any reason why the police would be involved in a work related accident? I think there is more maybe.

[GeronL]

He is pulling nail out of the eyes that Americans won't.... whatever that was...

[Samwise]

In many districts it is standard operating procedure for the police to go on all emergency runs. They make sure the situation is not a criminal activity. Many firemen and EMTs have been attacked respnding to 9-11 calls.

[Moonman62]

We don't need no steenkin' goggles.

[hatfieldmccoy]

Hmmm gringo so who is going to foot the bill for this illegal alien's medical treatment because the contracting company that hired his illegal butt knew they wouldn't have to cover expenses. Gringo it's you fool..Ha Ha Ha Ha.....giggle giggle

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[Originally from a town near Acapulco, Mexico, Franco has been in the construction business for about three weeks...]

I'd bet a week's salary that he's an illegal.

[laceybrookesdad]

OUCH!!

[dennisw]

slapped some peroxide and a bandaid on my palm.....

I prefer duct tape.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

I had a gate hook jam into my eye socket once, trapping my head because the hook had grabbed under the eyesocket (skull bone). Had to maneuver my head to dislodge the hook. Never lost clarity about what was going on.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Duct tape works in almost all situations, short of open-heart surgery.

[X-FID]

It sound's like he needed a paramedic more than a policeman, just wondering why the police are offering info instead of the medical people.

[Samwise]

Eeew. Now I have to fear gate hooks as well as store pegs and nail guns. :^)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Beware gate hooks when you are eight years old.

[dennisw]

Duct tape works in almost all situations, short of open-heart surgery.

I'll bet you didn't know that the glue on it is anti-bacterial :)

I do in fact use duct tape on cuts to stop the bleeding

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

ROFL! Had no idea! Dang, the things one learns at Free Republic!

[OneTimeLurker]

How long ago did this happen? Your jaw feeling a little tight or did you get a tetanus shot!

[A CA Guy]

Shock.

[blackbart.223]

"Taken and acknowledged!"

Thank you.

[X-FID]

I do in fact use duct tape on cuts to stop the bleeding

Must be some major cuts.

[international american]

"Originally from a town near Acapulco, Mexico, Franco has been in the construction business for about three weeks, Ocampo said.

"I don't know what's going to happen to him," Ocampo said. "I don't know if the insurance is going to cover his bills or anything."


He is illegal, and WE are paying for it. In California, they have taken over construction, so the developers are netting an additional 20-60,000 per house.

[Cultural Jihad]

"I don't know what's going to happen to him," Ocampo said. "I don't know if the insurance is going to cover his bills or anything."

If Mr. Franco's employer does not carry required medical and disabiliy insurance then the county ought to send the bill to his employer on top of a hefty fine. That is how I would feel if this was in my county.

[blackbart.223]

"He is illegal, and WE are paying for it."

That sums it all up.

[international american]

Your homepage says it all : )

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Yes,, if you get cut or a injury with anything metal, that's the one I thing I would be concerned about other than the bleeding, tetanus.

[ovrtaxt]

I do in fact use duct tape on cuts to stop the bleeding,

Tis but a flesh wound!

[processing please hold]

Duct tape works in almost all situations, short of open-heart surgery.

Don't underestimate the ingenuity of our doctors. I bet they could slap some duct tape around an artery faster than you can say, Jack Robinson.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

As long as you got a tetanus shot, I would have gone back to work too.

[processing please hold]

I do in fact use duct tape on cuts to stop the bleeding

When he's at work, my hubby uses electrical tape on cuts. Liquid has little effect on it's sticking power.

[blackbart.223]

I'm direct if nothing else.

[The Grammarian]

The death of the English language as we know it.

Indeed.

[blackbart.223]

"I amputated my abdomen once."

You evicerate your abdomen. You amputate your limbs. Let's keep this in proper context.

[blackbart.223]

Then how do we deal with the problem? I am at lost at this point.

[A CA Guy]

Could have been an illegal and the construction company is about to be liable and made to pay a huge fine to worker's compensation I figure.

[dasboot]

I wuz cleanin' wax outta my ears with a 20p nail, once. My buddy thought it would be funny to hit my hand. I hate it when that happens. But we had a good laugh.

[blackbart.223]

"I am at lost at this point."

Damn! I sure stepped in that one.