Bad news for Higher Ground Tactical range

[jbachert]

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehi...art_river_home

A Lehigh County indoor shooting range has been cited for allegedly exposing its employees to lead and noise hazards, according to the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

OSHA cited Higher Ground Tactical LLC, at 5402 Chestnut St. in Upper Milford Township, a week ago, after an inspection Nov. 5.

The business faces $135,200 in fines for the alleged violations. Owner John Cramsey has 15 days to comply with the regulations, request a conference with OSHA or contest the findings.

A message left for Cramsey at the range was not immediately returned.

"Indoor shooting range employers are well aware that noise and lead are common hazards in their industry. Higher Ground Tactical failed to take seriously its responsibility to ensure a safe and healthful workplace by failing to protect workers from hazardous overexposure to noise and lead," Jean Kulp, OSHA's area director in Allentown, said in a news release.

OSHA inspectors found "willful" violations of lead and noise hazards, including the company's failures to:

Use engineering or administrative controls where employees are exposed to excessive noise levels.
Implement a noise monitoring program.
Establish a program to monitor employee's hearing over time, and evaluate hearing protection.
Train employees on the hazards of noise.
Conduct air monitoring for lead.
Establish a written lead compliance program.
The full citations can be found here.

In a guide on lead management at firing ranges, the National Shooting Sports Foundation said the most significant potential source of airborne lead is caused by the flames of burning gunpowder acting on the exposed lead base of a projectile, or bullet.

Lead may become airborne from splatter caused by projectiles hitting backstops, floors, walls or baffles, according to the report.

[Gunsnwater]

The Obama administration strikes again. The stealth use of departments of federal agencies to attack all aspects of the gun. Pen and phone. Wake up. Get behind Trump or be part of the problem.

[rckeystone]

Sentinel Firearms http://www.lvshootingacademy.com/firearms.html was subletting space from Higher Ground and relocated to another location due to the lead issue. Looks like they're in Oley now

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[Muscle Master]

Lol.. Some asshole manager pissed off an employee

[Rosco the Iroc]

Wait shooting guns involves loud noises and lead?

[donotknowme]

Wades in Bellevue where I used to shoot had a similar issue but I believe it was the employees that sued not the Feds that fined.

[CartBone69]

I find it hard to beleive, especially when that place was a crap hole for how many years and hardly had any ventilation and lighting, now he comes in fixes it up, makes it look nicer then it ever has now they are tagging him with violations.

[alpacaheat]

Shocking....guns are loud. If you don't like loud, don't apply for a job at an indoor gun range.

The lead ventilation, I get, but noise violations are ridiculous.

[stainless]

Sentinel Firearms http://www.lvshootingacademy.com/firearms.html was subletting space from Higher Ground and relocated to another location due to the lead issue. Looks like they're in Oley now

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I go past the area shown on Google Maps and never saw the place. They might be on the same property as a landscaping company but not sure. Gotta check it out someday.

[aubie515]

Bingo...an employee contacted OSHA and started this snowball.

This is why it's not worth having an indoor range...the insurance liability along with what you need to have good ventilation is a deal breaker for most gun shops.

Lol.. Some asshole manager pissed off an employee