Shooting Range in Florida Reaches Costly Settlement With OSHA Over Lead Exposure Issues

It was recently announced by several media outlets that the owners of an indoor gun range in Florida have reached a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after an employee claimed his children’s lead poisoning was the result of his working at the facility. The agency conducted an inspection and issued three citations for lead levels above the permissible amount. The shooting range owners have reportedly agreed to pay $30,000 to the former employee and post information about lead safety.

As stated by OSHA, shooting range employers must protect their workers from the hazards of lead exposure. The OSHA Lead Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025) requires that in a workplace with potential lead exposure, the employer shall conduct an initial determination of airborne exposure to lead. If a worker is exposed at or above the action level (AL) or above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for lead, additional requirements apply.

“This appears to be a classic example of secondhand lead exposure, where a worker has lead on their clothes or body and brings it home to family members who come in contact with it in the form of lead-contaminated dust,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This is a serious issue at indoor shooting ranges because whenever lead bullets or lead-containing primers are used, the result can be exposure risks for workers and the public if the proper safety precautions and procedures are not in place. Fortunately, industrial hygiene and environmental testing can help to identify lead hazards before the toxic heavy metal can enter people’s bodies through inhalation or ingestion. It is also vital for determining if engineering controls and cleaning practices are effective.”

EMSL Analytical, Inc., with multiple testing facilities throughout Florida and dozens more across the United States and Canada, provides quick and affordable lead testing from air, dust, water and surface samples. Testing not only protects workers and customers at indoor ranges, it can be vital for avoiding costly noncompliance citations. To educate employers and workers about this hazard, EMSL has sponsored an online video about lead exposure risks at shooting ranges that can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/OmjzmbbPxk0.

To learn more about this or other occupational, environmental, air quality, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . To access lead and other indoor environmental quality (IEQ) test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail