Editing Shooting range (section)

==Common safety practices==
{{for|missiles and rockets|Range safety}}
[[File: Shooting Range Safety.JPG|thumb|Very important, highly visible [[gun safety|safety]] practices at a shooting range. ]]
Although some ranges require all weapons to be discharged, securely encased, and/or trigger-locked before entering or exiting the facility, others do not. Many jurisdictions have no such restrictions, regardless of whether one has a [[concealed carry (USA)|concealed carry]] license in jurisdictions where concealed carry is legal.
[[File: Warning sign posted indoor firing range to prevent Lead exposure.jpg|alt=Warning sign posted inside an indoor firing range to alert shooters and instructors about the potential for lead posining|thumb|Warning sign posted inside an indoor firing range to alert shooters and instructors about the potential for [[lead poisoning]]]]
Whether indoors or outdoors, all shooters are typically required to wear eye protection as well as hearing protection (ear muffs or earplugs) at all times when within the defined boundaries of the range. Employees and users are exposed to lead dust from bullets or cartridge primers, which can be inhaled or can settle on skin or clothing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2009/05/18/firingrange/|title=Take Aim at Protecting Yourself: Solutions for Preventing Lead Poisoning and Hearing Loss at Indoor Firing Ranges are that before leaving the range, change your clothes and wash them separately from the rest of your family's clothes. After shooting, handling spent cartridge cases, or cleaning guns, wash hands and face with soap and water or clean them with lead decontamination wipes, particularly before eating, drinking, or smoking. As an 8-hour time-weighted average, the action level for airborne lead exposure is 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air (g/m3) (TWA). The OSHA PEL for lead in the air is 50 g/m3 as an 8-hour TWA.|website=National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health}}</ref> Additionally, the discharging of firearms in indoor ranges can produce noise levels of over 140&nbsp;dB [[sound pressure level]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-136/|title=Preventing Occupational Exposures to Lead and Noise at Indoor Firing Ranges|author=National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health|date=April 2009|work=Publication No. 2009-136}}</ref> To combat this, it is commonly recommended that those inside the range  "double-up" ear protection by using both [[earplugs]] and over-the-head [[earmuffs]], and to protect range bystanders from sound exposure. Depending on the range, prescription eyeglasses may qualify as eye protection. Indoor ranges can be particularly unsafe, due to high lead exposures and increased noise exposures where the design or management is not of a quality conducive to best practice.

The [[National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health]] issued an Alert,<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-136/default.html |title=Preventing Occupational Exposures to Lead and Noise at Indoor Firing Ranges|website=CDC|doi=10.26616/NIOSHPUB2009136|year=2009|doi-access=free}}</ref> that presents five case reports documenting lead and noise exposures, and examines firing range operations, exposure assessment and control methods, existing regulations, and exposure standards and guidelines. More information about reducing occupational exposures at indoor firing ranges can be found at [https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ranges/ NIOSH Firing Range topic page]

In 2013, The American [[National Academy of Sciences]] published a report highlighting the shortcomings of current occupational lead exposure standards and urged the [[United States Department of Defense]] to update its guidelines and practices for protecting workers from lead exposure on firing ranges.<ref>{{cite book |title=Potential Health Risks to DOD Firing-Range Personnel from Recurrent Lead Exposure |url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18249/potential-health-risks-to-dod-firing-range-personnel-from-recurrent-lead-exposure |publisher=National Academies Press |access-date=8 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423083800/https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/18249/potential-health-risks-to-dod-firing-range-personnel-from-recurrent-lead-exposure |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |language=en-US |doi=10.17226/18249 |date=20 March 2013 |isbn=978-0-309-26736-6 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Air ===
[[File:Lead exposure at firing ranges—a review.pdf|thumb|Shooting ranges carry a risk of [[lead poisoning]] and are a public health concern]]
Lead and other pollutants are regulated by ventilation in a range. The configuration of the supply and exhaust air systems is critical for proper operation. Interlocks that enable both the supply and exhaust fans to be working should be designed to ensure proper operation. The range's exhaust system eliminates dirty air.
The air velocity down the range is determined by the exhaust flow rate, but it has no bearing on the airflow pattern at the firing line. A minor negative pressure in the range can be maintained by exhausting 3 to 7% more air than is supplied. The negative pressure of -0.04 + 0.02 inches water gauge should be maintained for ranges. Energy recovery systems should be considered because of the huge amount of air being exhausted. Single-speed fans, not multiple-speed fans, should be used. To demonstrate proper exhaust system function, indicators (static or velocity pressure) for flow monitoring are a good idea. 

Outside air must make up for the lost airflow. The distribution of supply air is crucial in assessing the ventilation system's effectiveness.
Air supply systems are designed to spread air equally over the firing range's distance. Airflow at the shooting line can be unstable if it is not uniformly dispersed, allowing lead and other pollutants to be brought back into the shooter's breathing region. Supply air should be added as high as possible in the range.

=== Cleaning ===
Due to the health risks of accumulated lead dust and combustion products, cleaning floors and horizontal surfaces on a regular basis is recommended, either explicitly<ref name="JSP403-Cleaning">{{cite web |title=JSP 403 Vol 2 - CHAPTER 30 CONTROL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN INDOOR RANGES |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/138248/JSP403_Vol2_Chap30_DLRSC.pdf |website=publishing.service.gov.uk |publisher=Ministry of Defence |language=en |date=February 2012 }}</ref> or as an implementation of more general health and safety regulations for handling lead.<ref>{{cite web |title=Control of lead at work (Third edition) |url=https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l132.htm |website=Health and Safety Executive |language=en |date=2002 }}</ref> The level of cleaning is determined by how often the range is used. Wet methods or a vacuum fitted with a high-performance particulate air (HEPA) filter may be used to clean. The risk of unburned powder accumulating necessitates the use of an explosion-proof HEPA vacuum.<ref name="JSP403-Cleaning"/>

During cleanup, the ventilation system should be turned on. Personnel and shooters should be aware of the areas of the range to which they are permitted entry, as well as the areas where their clothing or skin may become contaminated. Shooters should not be permitted to proceed beyond the firing line.{{cn|date=August 2023}} Individuals who might need to walk down the range should have disposable shoe coverings accessible.{{Dubious|date=August 2023|reason=Never seen or heard of this on any range in the UK or European mainland. Not mentioned in JSP403, nor NRA(GB) Range Management handbook}} Before consuming food, drinks, or other products, shooters should thoroughly wash their hands and face.

=== Safety Areas ===
[[File:Safety Area chart-en.jpg|thumb|right|{{center|Security area procedures chart.}}]]
In [[practical shooting]] sports, a '''Safety Area''' is a bay where shooters can handle unloaded firearms without the supervision of a range officer.<ref>[https://www.ipsc.org/safety-and-orientation/ Safety and Orientation | International Practical Shooting Confederation - IPSC]</ref><ref>[https://crookedfalls.com/basic-rules Crooked Falls Practical Shooters - Basic Rules]</ref> Safety areas are used in dynamic shooting sport disciplines (e.g. [[International Practical Shooting Confederation|IPSC]],<ref>[http://www.ipsc.org/pdf/RulesCombined.pdf IPSC 2015 Combined Rules, Rule Section 2.4 Safety Areas]</ref> [[Precision Pistol Competition|PPC 1500]], [[Steel Challenge]]).<ref>[https://dssn.no/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Regler-Steel-challenge.pdf Nordic Steel Challenge Rule Book - April 2019 Edition]</ref><ref>[https://albertonsportsshootingclub.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Intro2PS1.pdf Intro to Pistol Shooting - Safe Shooting - Techniques and the Requirements for a "B" Endorsement]</ref><ref>[https://www.sahuntingrifle.co.za/uploaded/SAHRSA%20Rules%2005_05_2017%20-%20Udated%20Revison%20for%20approval.pdf South African Hunting Rifle Shooting Association Rules Revision Serial Number 05/2017]</ref> They may be used to pack, unpack or [[handgun holster|holster]] firearms,<ref>[Vidar Nakling (1993, Myopics) - Praktisk pistolskyting - slik blir du bedre, 4th Edition, p. 154 {{ISBN|82-993331-0-5}}]</ref> cleaning or repair,<ref>[https://www.ssusa.org/content/uspsa-competition-speed-power-and-accuracy/ USPSA Competition: Speed, Power And Accuracy | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal]</ref> [[dry fire]] or train with empty magazines.<ref>[https://ipsc-online.com/en/chapitre/safety-area-boxing-un-boxing/ Safety Area, Boxing/Un-boxing - IPSC Black Badge / ACC]</ref><ref>[https://enps.us/match-info/match-safety-procedures Eastern Nebraska Practical Shooters > Match Info > Match Safety Procedures]</ref>

The Safety Area will have a designated safe direction in which shooters can point the muzzle of their firearm.<ref>[https://www.practical-shotgun.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Beginners-Guide-to-IPSC-Shotgun-4.pdf Beginners Guide to IPSC Shotgun.pages]</ref><ref>[https://ipsc.org.au/disciplines-handgun/ Handgun – International Practical Shooting Confederation Australia]</ref>

The handling of ammunition is expressly prohibited within the safety area, including any [[dummy round]]s. Outside the safety area ammunition can be handled freely to load magazines, but firearms may only be handled under the direct supervision of a Range Officer. This strict separation of firearms and ammunition prevents accidental or negligent discharges.

====Other uses of "Safety Area"====
The phrase "safety area" is generic and can have different meanings in other shooting sport disciplines, or defined in local range standing orders.

Of note is the US Military concept of a '''Small Arms Range Safety Area''' (SARSA). SARSAs are areas established to contain small arms activity that could be hazardous to non-participating aircraft. They define dates, boundaries and altitudes to be coordinated with local air traffic control.<ref>{{cite web |title=Department of the Army Pamphlet 385–63 - Range Safety |url=https://home.army.mil/knox/application/files/1316/7768/3533/DA_Pam_385-63_Range_Safety_20140416.pdf |publisher=[[United States Department of the Army]] |access-date=10 July 2024 |pages=6–7 |language=en-us |date=16 April 2014 }}</ref>