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Ohio Gun Shop Faces $194K in Fines for Workplace Hazards

Federal safety and health investigators say employees of an Ohio gun shop may face life-long health damage because their employer continues to expose them to lead hazards and has failed to establish a respiratory protection program.

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that on May 24, the agency placed Pro Armament Company LLC in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program after the company failed to correct serious violations identified in a November 2014 inspection.

The agency issued two failure to abate and six serious safety and health violations to the company, which faces total proposed penalties of $194,400.

OSHA’s November 2015 follow-up inspection found that Pro Armament:

• Overexposed workers to lead
• Did not monitor workers’ exposure to lead
• Failed to train workers on respiratory and lead hazards
• Failed to provide protective clothing such as shoe covers
• Did not provide clean changing rooms or require employees to shower at the end of a work shift to prevent lead contamination
• Lacked housekeeping procedures to remove lead from surfaces such as cash registers and tables.

Pro Armament is a gun range and shop that sells firearms and accessories and also provides instructional classes.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA