Ohio Gun Shop Fined $194,000 For Failing To Fix Air Safety & Other Violations

by | Mar 8, 2022 | Gun Range Air Quality, OSHA Requirements

Gun range owners are increasingly concerned about employee and customer health, and for good reason: failure to take air quality seriously can cause long-term health damage, and immediate, knee-buckling fines.  An Ohio gun range received a citation for not having established a respiratory protection program. Then, OSHA conducted a follow-up inspection and found that the range owners did not take the necessary steps required to bring their range up to safety compliance standards. A November 2015 visit found that workers and range customers were continually exposed to unsafe lead in the workplace. This and other violations resulted in a fine of $194,000 for failing to correct the original problems.

In 2012, The United States National Toxicology Program (NTP) published their findings regarding lead exposure. For adult men the article cited “sufficient evidence that that blood lead levels <10 μg/dL are associated with:

  • tremors
  • hypertension
  • cardiovascular-related mortality
  • electrocardiography abnormalities
  • decreased kidney function

The same publication stated that researchers found “sufficient evidence” that the same blood lead levels in women resulted in significant health problems, including:

  • Reduced fetal growth

There was additional evidence that for men and women, blood lead levels of <10 μg/dL are associated with:

  • psychiatric effects/mental health problems
  • damaged hearing
  • decreased cognitive function
  • incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • increased spontaneous abortion in women

These risks (in addition to those we’ve known in the past) stay afloat financially.  Rushing Ranges offers a better way to manage this problem.

Poor Safety Standards Result In Massive Fines

Federal investigators determine that employees are likely to face “life-long health damage.”

HOW TO AVOID LEAD FINES
Many range owners struggle with air quality. This problem is far more common than it should be – in fact, from our experience, most ranges have air quality problems.  Their energy bills are high because their equipment is not designed properly. Their filters are expensive and get worn out quickly.  To maintain acceptable airborne lead levels they must change filters (and have far more downtime) than they feel they can afford. The result is a tendency to “push” safety limits. However, if a safety inspector shows up and conducts air quality tests, they are likely to get fined. What’s worse, is that they are exposing themselves, their employees, and their customers to unsafe levels of airborne lead just to try and stay afloat financially.  Rushing Ranges offers a better way to manage this problem.

It Seems That Each Year Researchers “Discover” More About How Harmful Lead Can Be

As more and more research finds the long-term effects of lead exposure on our health, national safety regulators like OSHA continue to tighten down regulations.  If OSHA continues to increase safety requirements, most shooting range owners will be required to make significant changes to their safety program. Rushing Ranges offers a way to have 100% pure, fresh air in your range.

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