Employees of a Louisiana firing range were exposed to lead from spent ammunition rounds – a health and safety hazard which helped earn the company citations for 16 serious violations from OSHA.

After a worker at Barney’s Police Supply firing range complained to the agency about lead exposure, OSHA inspected the Lafayette facility on Jan. 13, 2016 and found that Barney’s:

• Did not provide medical evaluations.
• Failed to fit test and train employees prior to allowing them to use respirators.
• Allowed unshaven employees to conduct dry sweeping of dust containing lead that may prevent the respirator from sealing properly and allow particles to reach the individual's nose.
• Exposed employees to airborne lead levels above the permissible exposure level.
• Did not provide showers and adequate decontamination units.
• Failed to conduct biological monitoring for blood lead levels.
• Did not maintain a hazard communication program.

Proposed penalties:$78,400

The company was found to be in violation of OSHA’s Respiratory Protection and Lead Standards, which were enacted to help protect workers from the brain damage, kidney disease and harm to  the reproductive system that lead exposure can cause.

Barney's, Inc., doing business as Barney's Police Supply, is a firing range and police supply facility.