OSHA recently cited a gun range in Toledo, Ohio, for workplace lead exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration‘s Toledo Area Office (part of the U. S. Department of Labor) cited Kremer’s Guns LLC, in Celina, Ohio, for 23 safety violations on September 26, 2015. These safety violations endangered the health of their employees. OSHA investigated Kremer’s Guns after learning that one or more of their employees had elevated blood lead levels.
OSHA classified the safety violations as “serious,” which they define as “a serious violation exists when the workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, unless the employer did not know or could not have known of the violation.” OSHA has proposed a penalty of $61,200 for this series of safety violations.
The investigation discovered that Kremer’s Guns did not monitor workers’ exposure to lead and failed to train workers on work environment hazards. They didn’t provide protective clothing and they permitted employees to wear work clothing home, thus potentially exposing their families or others to lead. There should have been showers for the employees; there weren’t. There should have been a separate lunch facility to prevent lead ingestion; there wasn’t. They lacked a basic respiratory protection program for their employees.
“Lead exposure can cause multiple serious health hazards that have life-long consequences – but it’s easily preventable,” said Kimberly Nelson, the area director for OSHA. “Eliminating exposure, using engineering controls, and personal protective equipment such as clothing and respirators as well as properly cleaning lead dust and particles can limit worker exposure and prevent them from transporting lead contamination home.”
Firing range services, including complete range maintenance, improvements, and lead remediation services help to keep your community and shooters safe, bullets are dangerous enough without adding to the hazard.
Environmental Remediation is not Just Good Practice, it’s the Law!
Environmental Remediation is the removal of toxins from the environment, specifically the soil or water in the area. This is an extremely important part of conserving the environment and if not done properly, can have a serious impact of the health and well-being of community members. Many times, the substance in question is lead. Too much exposure to lead can cause reduced coordination, nerve damage, and even reproductive issues.
In the past, lead has gotten into the environment in several ways. Lead paint used to be common in homes and children’s toys. Overexposure is especially problematic in children. It is currently sometimes used in construction, which can lead to run off into the soil. Fortunately, we are now aware of the issue and have redesigned many products to be lead free. That said; there are many ways to ensure environmental remediation in regards to lead in the soil, several of which are all natural.
- Add organic matter: adding compost or certain plants will raise the pH of the soil and the critters living in it will bond to the toxins. Fish bones are another example of a material that will bind to the lead.
- Treating the groundwater: by pumping it out and treating it, it will reduce the amount of contaminated water that will leak into the soil.
- Technology: other popular options include thermal desorption and surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation (SEAR).
It is for all these reasons that MT2 felt it crucial to provide remediation services to firing ranges. Many laws are now in place about lead management. Firearm safety is not only about the gun.
Contact us to learn more about how MT2 can make your range lead free or put you back on the road to safety.
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