Editing Shooting range (section)

=== 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>