Lead contamination is dangerous situation that we shooters all worry about – or should be worried about! I work at an indoor range. We go to great pains to make sure that exposure to lead is as minimal as possible. Every day we clean each range bay, and we use state of the art HVAC and air filtration systems to keep the air clean. Not just to make the range comfortable, but to keep everyone safe as they enjoy their experience.
Lead particles can get everywhere. In your hair, your clothes, all over your guns, and all over your hands. We always encourage our patrons, guests, and friends to wash their hands after shooting. But there is one area that gets neglected, that we don’t think about.
Our Range Bags.
Think about it. It’s right there on the firing line with us. We go into the bag all the time for ammo and magazines… and it’s catching some of everything we throw down range. Powder and Powder Residue, Brass at times… and lead particles.
As dirty as your hands can get, you grab that range bag. Then, you go and wash your hands, and then you grab your range bag again to take it to the car. At home, you wash your clothing, shower, and then you grab your range bag. Your hands could be getting contaminated with lead even before you shoot for the day.
Let me ask you this; when was the last time you cleaned your range bag? You don’t have to answer that. I’ll be honest. I don’t think I’ve ever cleaned my range bag! How much lead have I been bringing into my home?
Make cleaning your range bag a part of your shooting schedule.
Back to the steel toolbox and wiping it down after a shoot! Geoff Who never thought of that.
None of us thought of it.
Lead is really nasty stuff. I swept an indoor range after hours for almost 5 years and my jackass boss wouldn’t even provide respirators to get the job done. Now the outdoor range that I’m a member of is taking bids for companies for lead removal and chemical treatment to prevent what’s left (and what gets shot after the clean up) from leeching into the water table. The EPA isn’t messing around with this stuff and will shut down a facility in a heartbeat.
i worked an indoor range in virginia beach for 10 years, on the night shift, we had 3 bays to sweep. got sick one time had a lung xray , drs thought i worked in a coal mine cause my lungs were so black. took about 5 years of being out of the range daily to clean my lungs out. this problem should be taken very seriously, imho.
Glad you are okay!
My range bag is never on the shooting bench for exactly that reason. I admit to grabbing the handles without thoroughly cleaning my hands first, though. Doh!