<p>Workers come in contact with lead dust in all areas of the shooting range. Lead dust becomes airborne and settles everywhere, including on the retail counters, merchandise, and floors. Some work tasks increase your contact with lead, such as:</p>
<ul><li>Emptying or cleaning bullet traps: This job can cause <strong>very</strong> high lead exposure.</li>
<li>Cleaning the range (recovering bullet casings, cleaning floors): Dry sweeping will put a lot of lead dust into the air.</li>
<li>Spending time on the firing line: Every gunshot releases some lead into the air.</li>
<li>Cleaning or handling guns or ammunition.</li></ul>

<p>Routine cleaning of the entire shooting range will help reduce the amount of lead on surfaces. Use safe cleaning methods to avoid stirring up lead dust:</p>
<ul><li>Vacuum with a HEPA filter vacuum</li>
<li>Clean all surfaces regularly, including retail counters and break areas, with a damp cloth</li>
<li>Wet sweep or mop instead of dry sweeping</li></ul>

<p>Your employer should give you PPE to wear when doing high-risk tasks. PPE may include:</p>
<ul><li>Disposable suits such as Tyvek®</li>
<li>Uniforms that stay at the shooting range for cleaning</li>
<li>NIOSH approved respirators (require fit testing and training)</li>
<li>Shoe covers</li> 
<li>Gloves</li>
<li>Hearing protection (for noise)</li></ul>

<p>To reduce the amount of lead dust you may breathe in or swallow by accident, do not eat, drink, smoke or vape in the shooting range. If possible, keep these items in a locker, refrigerator or even in your car to avoid contamination. Always wash your hands, face and forearms with de-lead soap before eating, drinking, smoking or vaping, and do so only in designated areas.</p>

<p>Lead dust sticks to your skin, hair, clothes and shoes. It is important to avoid bringing lead into your car or home where others can be exposed. After work, be sure to:</p>
<ul><li>Change into clean clothes and shoes. </li>
<li>Keep dirty work clothes and shoes separate from clean street clothes in a locker or plastic bag.</li>
<li>Wash your hands, face and forearms with de-lead soap.</li>
<li>Shower and wash your hair as soon as you get home, before touching your loved ones or pets.</li></ul><p>For more information about “take-home” lead, see our brochure “Don’t Take Lead Home From Your Job!” in <a title="PDF in English: Don't Take Lead Home from Your Job" href="/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/OLPPP/CDPH%20Document%20Library/takehome.pdf" target="_blank">English (PDF)</a> or <a title="PDF in Spanish: Don't Take Lead Home from Your Job" href="/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/OLPPP/CDPH%20Document%20Library/takehomeesp.pdf" target="_blank">Spanish (PDF)</a>.</p>

<p>A simple blood test will show how much lead you have in your body. Ask your employer for your first test, and follow-up testing every 6 months. See <a title="PDF: Workplace Hazard Alert - Health Dangers from Lead" href="/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/OLPPP/CDPH%20Document%20Library/LeadHazAlert.pdf" target="_blank">Workplace Hazard Alert - Health Dangers from Lead (PDF)</a> for more information on what your employer must do to protect you.</p>
<p>If you think you may have brought lead dust home to others living with you, they should ask their doctor for a blood test. Children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are especially at risk for lead poisoning. If you need help getting a blood lead test for a family member, contact your <a title="List of Local Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs" href="/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/Pages/CLPPPIndex.aspx" target="_blank">local Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program</a>.</p>