Lead exposure from indoor airgun ranges at dual use facilities

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal found in the earth’s crust that has many uses, including in the manufacture of ammunition

The processing, handling, use and disposal of lead can result in widespread environmental contamination and lead to Air rifle target human exposures.

Lead Exposure

Exposure to lead over a short, or prolonged, period can cause lead poisoning and health problems. Lead exposure can occur from handling lead ammunition or from dust produced when a lead pellet impacts a target, target stand or other objects.

Lead will also be present in any dust filtered by any extraction system. All persons in an indoor range will be exposed to the lead dust produced by firing a gun.

Duties of Range Operators

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires every employer to take reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety, and welfare at work of all employees, and to operate their undertaking in a way that does not put the health and safety of customers, visitors and contractors at risk.

All employers and self-employed persons must also carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to employee and non-employee health and safety associated with the activities under his control and take reasonable steps to either prevent or effectively mitigate all significant risks.

Dual Use Facilities (sports halls, community centres, public houses)

It is not uncommon for gun clubs to hire space in community venues for indoor shooting events. The venue duty holder must request a copy of the gun club risk assessment before the hire is agreed to understand how risks associated with lead exposure will be effectively controlled by the gun club.

Air rifle man side Venue operators must also understand what surface cleaning will be needed to remove lead dust prior to the room being used by other people and confirm who will be doing this.

Venue operators must also ensure fixtures and fittings, such as plugs and light fittings, are adequately protected in the area to be used as an indoor firing range to avoid accidental damage.

Defects must be reported in a timely manner for repairs to be arranged.

Health & Hygiene - Hand Washing Facilities

Adequate hand washing facilities with hot and cold (or mixed) running water, liquid soap and hygienic hand drying facilities should be readily available to all persons using the indoor firing range to facilitate regular hand washing after the handling and loading of ammunition. The importance of regular hand hygiene should be effectively communicated to all range users through clear signage.

Health & Hygiene - Consuming of Food & Drink

Eating, gum chewing, drinking, and smoking are forbidden in an indoor area used as a firing range. The Range Operator is responsible for communicating the importance of thorough hand washing after leaving the indoor range before anyone eats, drinks or smokes. Additional signage can be used to remind users to that food and drink is not permitted in the firing range area.

Exposure to Lead in the Atmosphere

Maintaining a clean range is the single most effective way to ensure that the risk of exposure to lead is minimised. Ranges where dust from firing is allowed to accumulate due to inadequate cleaning, will potentially expose users to increased levels of lead in the air.

Frequency of Cleaning

Areas used as indoor ranges will require cleaning after every use and before the area is used for any other activity.

Cleaning Methods

To effectively control the risk of lead exposure, anyone responsible for cleaning surfaces in an indoor firing range must use damp sweeping and damp dusting methods. Dry sweeping and dusting is strictly forbidden.

Cleaning the area used as a range should only be undertaken by staff with adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and who have received sufficient training on the hazards of Lead exposure and the use of PPE, such as clothing, face shields, gloves, aprons etc.

Useful information links

Please visit the National Rifle Association, where a copy of their Range Design & Safety Handbook and other useful information can be found by visiting www.NRA.org.uk

Relevant Legislation

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (legislation.gov.uk)

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (legislation.gov.uk)

Further guidance can be found by visiting:

HSE: Information about health and safety at work

Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – legislation explained (hse.gov.uk)

Managing for health and safety (HSG65) (hse.gov.uk)

Control of lead at work (Third edition) - L132 (hse.gov.uk)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) at work regulations from 6 April 2022 (hse.gov.uk)