Protecting Workers from Lead Hazards 

at Indoor Firing Ranges

Using lead bullets or lead-containing primers at indoor firing (shooting) ranges 

can expose workers to lead and result in unsafe levels of lead in their blood. Lead 

enters the body through inhalation or ingestion. Once in the bloodstream, lead 

can damage various organs and cause health problems.

Firing range employers must protect their 

workers from the hazards of lead exposure. The 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration 

(OSHA) Lead Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025)

requires that in a workplace with potential 

lead exposure, the employer conduct an initial 

determination of workers 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 fact sheet provides 

firing range employers with information on 

how their workers can be exposed to lead and 

summarizes the provisions and requirements of 

the Lead Standard that apply to firing ranges. For 

more complete information on lead and detailed 

requirements under the Lead Standard, visit 

OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics Page on Lead.

How lead exposure can occur:

• Shooting firearms with lead bullets or 

lead‐containing primer creates airborne lead 

in the gun smoke. 

• Lead bullet deformation and fragmentation 

can cause lead exposure at hard surface bullet 

trap systems. 

• A building’s standard HVAC system may not 

adequately remove airborne lead particles 

from the range.

• Handling spent cartridges or cleaning firearms 

can contaminate the hands and skin with lead.

• Improper range cleaning methods 

(dry sweeping; compressed air; non-highefficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered 

vacuums) or inadequate cleaning of leadcontaminated surfaces. 

• Recovering lead bullets from traps, emptying 

bullet trays, or casting lead bullets can create 

lead dust and fumes. 

• Bringing and consuming food and drinks in the 

range area. Not washing hands and face before 

eating, drinking, or smoking.

• Lack of handwashing facilities for workers to 

remove lead. 

• Wearing contaminated work clothes in eating 

and office areas or wearing these clothes home.

NIOSH estimates there are 16,000 to 18,000 indoor firing 

ranges in the U.S. 

Photo: NIOSH

Firing Ranges and the 

OSHA Lead Standard

The following section highlights selected OSHA 

requirements, along with recommendations, that 

can help employers both comply with the Lead 

Standard and implement best practices. For all 

employer requirements under the standard, see 

OSHA’s Lead Standard (29 CFR 1910.1025).

FactSheet
Exposure Monitoring

Required

• An initial determination – Collect full-shift 

personal air samples to determine if employee 

exposure is at or above the AL of 30 μg/m3 or 

exceeds the PEL of 50 μg/m3.

• If employee exposure is at or above the 

AL >30 days a year, employers must offer 

medical surveillance, including blood lead 

level monitoring to affected employees.

• Repeat monitoring is required at various 

intervals if exposures are at or above the AL 

or above the PEL. See 29 CFR 1910.1025(d)(6).

• If exposure is above the PEL >30 days a year, 

then employers must implement engineering 

and work practice controls to reduce 

exposure to or below the PEL (see box below 

for recommended exposure controls for 

firing ranges).

• When ventilation is used to control exposure, 

ensure effective operation of the ventilation 

system with scheduled (every 3 months) 

inspections and routine maintenance.

RECOMMENDED EXPOSURE 

CONTROLS FOR FIRING RANGES

Eliminate/Substitute: Use jacketed or 

lead-free bullets and non-lead primer.

Engineering Controls: Provide a separate 

“push/pull” ventilation system (not 

connected to the general HVAC system) with 

supplied and exhausted air flow designed to 

move lead emissions downrange from the 

source (firearm) toward the filtered exhaust 

area at/or behind the bullet trap:

• Electrically interlock supply and exhaust 

fans for simultaneous operation when 

the range is in use. 

• Use HEPA filters in the ventilation 

exhaust system to prevent lead from 

entering the outside environment.

Work Practice Controls: Use a closed bag 

system to empty bullet trays and debris. 

Use a water mist spray or other type 

of wet method to keep lead dust from 

becoming airborne.

Housekeeping

Required

• Keep all surfaces as free of lead 

accumulations as practical.

• Ensure that workers do not use compressed 

air to clean floors or other surfaces where 

lead may accumulate. 

• Ensure that workers do not shovel, dry-sweep, 

or brush lead-bullet debris unless vacuuming 

or other equally effective methods have been 

tried and found not to eliminate the hazard. 

See 29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(2)(ii).

Recommended

• Use a HEPA filtered vacuum and/or wet 

methods for cleaning.

• Perform housekeeping and cleaning 

procedures on a frequent basis. 

• Wipe sample detection of lead is a useful tool 

to evaluate a housekeeping program (surfaces 

and floors including eating areas) and hygiene 

practices (employee hands) by identifying lead 

contamination. Colorimetric wipes for on-thespot detection of lead are now readily available.

Respiratory Protection 

Required

• Provide appropriate, NIOSH-approved 

respirators when engineering and work 

practice controls are not sufficient to reduce 

lead exposure to or below the PEL.

• For more information on respiratory protection 

program requirements, including fit testing, see 

OSHA’s Respiratory Protection standard (29 CFR 

1910.134) and visit OSHA’s Safety and Health 

Topics webpage on Respiratory Protection.

Recommended

• Even when exposure is below the PEL, 

provide workers with appropriate respiratory 

protection for short-term, high lead exposure 

work tasks such as cleaning bullet traps, 

changing ventilation system filters, or 

disposing of vacuum-collected dust.

Protective Work Clothing and Equipment 

Required

• Provide full‐body work clothing (coveralls 

or disposable suits), gloves, head and foot 

covering, face shield, and vented goggles to 

workers exposed to lead above the PEL.
• Ensure that workers do not use compressed 

air or similar methods to remove lead dust 

from range floors, other surfaces, or clothing.

Recommended

• Provide protective work clothing and 

equipment for employees while performing 

range cleaning or maintenance.

Hygiene Facilities and Practices

Required

• Prohibit food, drink, eating, tobacco, and the 

use of cosmetics in areas with lead exposure 

above the PEL.

• Change rooms, separate storage lockers, 

and showers must be provided when worker 

exposures to lead are above the PEL.

Recommended

• Provide readily available handwashing stations.

• Do not allow any food, drinks, or tobacco 

products in the range area.

• Consider using lead decontamination wipes 

in addition to soap and water to remove 

lead from hands after cleaning firearms and 

picking up spent casings and before eating, 

drinking, or smoking.

• Provide a clean change area and separate 

storage lockers for employees with lead hazards 

in their work area, regardless of exposure levels.

Medical Surveillance and Medical 

Removal Protection

Required

• Implement a medical surveillance program for 

workers exposed to lead at or above the AL 

>30 days a year. 

• Make available blood lead and zinc 

protoporphyrin testing to workers exposed to 

lead at or above the AL at frequencies specified 

in the Lead Standard. See 29 CFR 1910.1025(j)(2).

• Remove employees from work who have a lead 

exposure at or above the AL if their blood lead 

level meets or exceeds the criteria specified in 

the Lead Standard, or if a physician determines 

removal is needed. See 29 CFR 1910.1025(k)(1).

Recommended

• Offer blood lead testing for employees with 

lead hazards in their work area, regardless of 

exposure levels.

• Blood lead levels at or above 5 micrograms 

of lead per deciliter of blood (μg/dL) are 

considered elevated.

Employee Lead Hazard Training and 

Hazard Communication

Required

• Inform workers with potential lead exposure 

of the content of Appendices A and B of the 

Lead Standard. 

• Provide initial and annual training to all 

employees exposed to lead at or above the AL 

on the content of the Lead Standard and work 

activities that could result in lead exposure.

• Post warning signs with the language 

specified in the Lead Standard in each work 

area where the PEL is exceeded.

• OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard

(29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers 

to provide information and training for 

all employees with lead hazards in their 

work areas.

Additional Information

OSHA can provide compliance assistance 

through a variety of programs, including technical 

assistance about effective safety and health 

programs, workplace consultations, and training 

and education. OSHA’s On-Site Consultation 

Program offers free, confidential occupational 

safety and health services to small and mediumsized businesses in all states and several 

territories across the country, with priority given 

to high-hazard worksites. On-Site consultation 

services are separate from enforcement and do 

not result in penalties or citations. To locate the 

OSHA On-Site Consultation Program nearest you, 

visit www.osha.gov/consultation.

Workers’ Rights

Workers have the right to:

• Working conditions that do not pose a risk of 

serious harm.

• Receive information and training (in a 

language and vocabulary the worker 

understands) about workplace hazards, 

methods to prevent them, and the OSHA 

standards that apply to their workplace.

• Review records of work-related injuries 

and illnesses.
DSG FS-3772 06/2018

This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies or 

standards. It does not impose any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of 

compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. 

The voice phone is (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

• File a complaint asking OSHA to inspect their

workplace if they believe there is a serious

hazard or that their employer is not following

OSHA’s rules. OSHA will keep all identities

confidential.

• Exercise their rights under the law without

retaliation, including reporting an injury or

raising health and safety concerns with their

employer or OSHA. If a worker has been

retaliated against for using their rights, they

must file a complaint with OSHA as soon as

possible, but no later than 30 days.

For additional information, see OSHA’s Workers 

page (www.osha.gov/workers).

How to Contact OSHA

Under the Occupational Safety and Health 

Act of 1970, employers are responsible for 

providing safe and healthful workplaces for 

their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure 

these conditions for America’s working 

men and women by setting and enforcing 

standards, and providing training, education 

and assistance. For more information, visit 

www.osha.gov or call OSHA at 1-800-321-OSHA 

(6742), TTY 1-877-889-5627.