OSHA Compliance with Guardair Products

All air guns operate on compressed air—compressed air that can be extremely dangerous if misused, or if horse-play in the workplace occurs. Not only can workers be severely injured from the use of non-compliant, illegal air guns, but compliance failures can mean steep fines for violators. Although OSHA Standards pertaining to air guns can be confusing, OSHA's three primary concerns are Noise, Output Pressure and Chip-Guarding.

To address excessive noise in the workplace OSHA has developed permissible daily noise exposure specifications. Since air guns can potentially contribute to high levels of occupational noise, Guardair safety air guns incorporating noise suppression nozzles can be an important component in moving towards noise level compliance.

OSHA Standard Related to Noise
Occupational Noise Exposure
OSHA Standard 1910.95

Guardair Safety Air Guns Incorporating Noise Suppression Nozzles

Part Number Model/Descripton Noise Level (db)*
80/80WJ

WhisperJet

93

80LJ Series

WhisperJet Extended Reach

99
84CNA

WhisperJet Nozzle

93
86FLX

Flextension

93

980

Thumbswitch Whisper Jet

89

F5 QuietForce Series

Force 5 QuietForce Extended Reach

101

INF QuietForce Series

Inforcer QuietForce Extended Reach

101

* Measured at 100 psi inlet pressure.

Guardair recommends the use of noise suppression nozzles and/or hearing protection equipment as part of a comprehensive noise control program.


Factory air compressors and air lines nominally operate at pressures between 80 and 120 psi (pounds per square inch). Most pneumatic tools, including air guns, require such high pressures to operate effectively. However, OSHA Standards requires that in the event such air lines are dead-ended (i.e. if the tip of an air gun is blocked) the static output pressure at the point of the blockage may not exceed 30 psi. All Guardair safety air guns incorporate nozzle designs which are engineered to meet, or exceed, this 30 psi requirement.OSHA Standard and Instruction Related to Output Pressure



OSHA Standard and Instruction Related to Output Pressure

Compressed Air Used for Cleaning

OSHA Standard 1910.242(b)
 

Reduction of Air Pressure Below 30 psi for Cleaning Purposes

STD 01-13-001

 

Static Output Pressure for Guardair Safety Air Guns*

Part Number Product/Description Static Output Pressure (psi)

57S30XB

Original

16

74BH

Blind Hole

13

74H

AirMiser

N/A

75LJ Series

Long John Extended Reach

17

74S/SK

JetGuard

13

75XT Series

XtraThrust Extended Reach

18
75XXT

XtraThrust

23

76S006

Booster

13
80/80WJ

WhisperJet

N/A

80LJ Series

WhisperJet Extended Reach

N/A

84CNA

WhisperJet Nozzle

N/A
86FLX

Flextension

N/A
900

Thumbswitch

16
86FLX

Flextension

N/A
900

Thumbswitch

16

900LJ Series

Thumbswitch Extended Reach

13
900S

Thumbswitch

3
970

Thumbswitch

11

980

Thumbswitch Whisper Jet

N/A

F5 Venturi Series

Force 5 Venturi Extended Reach

16

F5 QuietForce Series

Force 5 QuietForce Extended Reach

7

HYD Series

HydroForce Extended Reach

10

INF Venturi Series

Inforcer Venturi Extended Reach

16

INF Steel Series

Inforcer Steel Extended Series

16

INF QuietForce Series

Inforcer QuietForce Extended Reach

7

LZR600

Lazer Palm Switch

14

LZR650

Lazer Pistol Grip

14

LZR600 Series

Lazer PalmSwitch Extended Reach

16

LZR650 Series

Lazer Pistol Grip Extended Reach

19

U75LJ Series

ULTRA Venturi Extended Reach

18

U75XT Series

ULTRA XtraThrust Extended Reach

20

U80WJ2

ULTRA WhisperJet

N/A

U80WJ Series

ULTRA WhisperJet Extended Reach

N/A

* Measured at 100 psi inlet pressure.

** Static Output Pressure measured at nozzle tip when dead-ended. N/A indicates nozzle tip cannot physically be blocked.

Guardair recommends the use of OSHA compliant safety air guns to insure that static output pressure does not exceed 30 psi.


When blowing off debris with an air gun in close quarters, workers may be subject to "chip fly-back." This term refers to the tendency of loose particles or chips to fly back into the operator's face, eyes or skin. For operations that require close-in work, OSHA mandates that "effective chip guarding" be incorporated into the workplace. Effective chip guarding means methods or equipment that will prevent chips or particles from flying back at the operator. Guardair offers several safety air gun models incorporating the Air Shield nozzle, which protects the operator from chip fly-back.

OSHA Standard and Instruction Related to Chip-Guarding

Compressed Air Used for Cleaning

OSHA Standard 1910.242(b)
 

Reduction of Air Pressure Below 30 psi for Cleaning Purposes

STD 01-13-001

Guardair Safety Air Guns Incorporating Air Shield Nozzles

Part Number Model/Description
57S30XB

Original

74BH

Blind Hole

74S/SK

JetGuard

76S006

Booster

Guardair recommends the use of air shield nozzles as well as barriers, screens, and/or personal protective clothing for effective chip-guarding.