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The Strike Report - May 2008
 

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

 “My life will be buoyant, and my death will be tranquil, only if I can rest upon a store of honor.”   ~Mark Helprin~
 

Firearms Instructors and Lead Exposure

Having a Better Awareness

For active firearms instructors, exposure to lead and lead contaminates can result in very serious health issues.  It is the responsibility of any agency or firearms training facility to ensure that they are doing everything they can to increase lead awareness among their staff and have adequate safety protocols in place to deal with it.  In dealing with lead and lead contaminates the agency or firearms training facility must take an aggressive, proactive approach.

One of the starting points is to require all instructors to get blood tested in order to establish an adequate baseline awareness of where they are at.  This is extremely important for new instructors just starting out.  In the industrialized world (example: America) the average levels found in a person will run from 5 - 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.  Compare this to pre-industrialized ancient man where tests done on bone fragments reflect 0 - 2 micrograms of lead.  Lead stores itself tenaciously to bone.  As a safety point, if you have anyone testing out around 15 - 25 micrograms you should carefully start monitoring them on a regular basis.  OSHA is even more stringent.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) considers 40 mcg/dl to be elevated in adults.  At this level there will be some hematological changes taking place and requires continuous medical monitoring of the individual.  Between 50 and 75 mcg/dl or higher could cause serious lead poisoning symptoms and might require the individual to undergo "Chelation Therapy."  This involves the person going through intravenous infusing with EDTA to flush the lead out of the system.

It should be noted that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified lead as a highly toxic heavy metal with no beneficial biological use in the human body.  When a person inhales or ingests lead it is absorbed into the bloodstream.  Once in the body it becomes very difficult to remove.  Continual exposure results in the accumulation of lead in the body, and measurable amounts of lead indicate cumulative exposure over a lifetime.  The lead also goes to the soft tissue organs; kidneys, brain, liver and other areas as well.  Below are some of the symptoms and affects of lead exposure.

Lead Exposure and Symptoms

 

  • Loss of memory

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of sexual interest

  • Insomnia

  • Depression

  • Headaches

  • Elevated blood pressure

  • Bone Joint Pain

  • Digestive and abdominal pain

  • Kidney damage

 

Minimizing Exposure

 

The EPA has also made the determination that lead poses a serious helath hazard to everyone.  Unfortunately, individuals working with and around firearms often overlook the harmful effects of lead.  Therefore, firearms range personnel must take precautions to control all unnecessary exposure to the toxic element.  For firearms range personnel, knowing the hazards of lead is a primary responsibility; taking the necessary precautions to minimize exposure is a duty.

 

  • Do not pick up brass and place into your hat.  Lead particles and other contaminates can have a residual effect, and be absorbed through the pores of the skin.

  • It is advisable not to smoke, eat or drink while on the range because of the particulate lead that can be picked up and ingested.

  • Make sure your range has proper ventilation.

  • You are reminded that when you are on a scheduled break, or preparing to leave the range, that you need to wash you face and hands before you go.

  • When you get home shower and wash your hair thoroughly.  Wash your range clothes as soon as it is practical to do so and wash them separately from other clothes.

  • Get lead tested.

 

Additionally, firearms training facilities should have an adequate shower system for staff personnel, washer/dryers for clothes, adequate ventilation for classrooms, shoot-houses and even open ranges that may be subject to hot stagnant air on summer days should be ventilated.  By following these few basic guidelines dealing with lead contamination you will greatly reduce the likelihood of subjecting yourself or your staff to any serious lead exposure.

 

*  Resource material for this report:  OSHA, EPA, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, ASLET - Article by Anthony Gregory, 19090 and Dallas Police Department FTC.

 

Jack C. Perritt
George F. Wiley
Strike International

 

SPECIAL MESSAGE:

 

On this Memorial Day let us not forget our American soldiers.  They, who have so resolutely served the nation and the rest of the world with courage and honor, and for the betterment of all humanity.  Many of them have been called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice while we remain safe and secure in life and liberty.  We owe them so much but most of all...our respect and admiration.

 

Strike International - 2008

 

 

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