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Construction worker dies after nail-gun accident

By Taryn Brodwater
Staff writer
April 19, 2007

A 26-year-old construction worker died Wednesday morning following an accident involving a nail gun, Kootenai County Coroner Dr. Robert West said.

Damon A. Huhtala of Coeur d’Alene was framing a house at Gozzer Ranch near Harrison on Wednesday when he apparently slipped and fell.

West said a nail of about 3 inches entered the right side of Huhtala’s skull, injuring his brain stem.

Huhtala was an employee with Edwards Construction, Inc., of Coeur d’Alene.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.

“He apparently fell with his finger on the trigger,” said Van Howell, OSHA’s area director for Idaho. Howell said the safety mechanisms on the nail gun appeared to be in use and functioning.

Nobody witnessed the incident, according to Howell. Coworkers found Huhtala after the injury had occurred.

West said a forensic autopsy will not be performed.

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