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Home My WebLink About1017 - LEAD EXPOSURE POLICYRed Wing Police Department Policy POLICY NUMBER P�SUBJECT: OLIC 1017 Lead Exposure Policy EFFECTIVE DATE City0f July 1, 2016 RED WING REFERENCE(S):APPROVED BY: Minnesota ) L - Al CHIEF ROGER D. POHLMAN COMMENT: The Department has established procedures for lead exposure during firearms training activities. Each sworn employee who uses the range facilities in the performance of his/her duties shall adhere to this written policy. Each person at the range facilities utilized by the Red Wing Police Department or using the cleaning room at the LEC shall use personal protective equipment. The Red Wing Police Department shall conform to all pertinent Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations. The Department Training Officer shall control and administer the Department's Lead Exposure Policy. The Training Officer shall conduct all site safety inspections of range and cleaning room with regard to lead exposure and chemical exposure safety. This shall include the testing and evaluation of lead exposure at all ranges, coordination of medical testing, all record-keeping of required tests and other related issues found in OSHA 1910.1025 in conjunction with Employee Services. The Training Officer shall also be responsible for selection of all personal protective equipment used by department. PURPOSE: To ensure safe working conditions for all department employees by establishing uniform procedures for lead exposure and chemical exposure control. Below are a list of basics that need to be understood before employees are exposed to lead. BACKGROUND ON LEAD A. Effects of lead on the body The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies lead as a heavy metal with no beneficial biological use in the body. When a person inhales or ingests lead dust fume or mist, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and is stored in the bones and soft tissue of the body. Once in the body it becomes very difficult to remove. It can remain in the body for many years. Continual exposure results in the accumulation of lead in the body, and measurable amounts of lead indicate cumulative exposure over a lifetime. B. Symptoms of lead poisoning 1. The numerous symptoms of lead poisoning mimic various diseases, often making diagnosis difficult. Most commonly, Page 1 of 5 Lead Exposure Policy 1017 individuals' experience abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea, subtle mood changes, headaches, constipation, irritability, and depression. Muscle pain, muscle weakness, weight loss, impotence, convulsions, anemia, and renal failure may occur with increased lead levels in the body. 2. AFFECTED EMPLOYEES A. The EPA has determined that lead poses a serious health hazard to everyone. Unfortunately, individuals working with and around firearms often overlook the harmful effects of lead. Therefore, officers and firearms range personnel must take precautions to control all unnecessary exposure to this toxic element. For officers and firearms range personnel, knowing the hazards of lead is a primary responsibility. Taking the necessary precautions to minimize exposure is a duty of all officers and firearms instructors. Precautions: a. Blow your nose after shooting. b. After any shooting or reloading session, wash hands and face before eating or smoking. C. Wash hair before bed, as lead particles in the hair can transfer to the pillow and thus be ingested during sleep. d. Use lead-free primers, which are widely available, though expensive. They should undergo years of testing and field experience before an agency relies on them for general use and officer survival. e. Have your doctor test you for lead levels as part of your regular checkup. Change your shooting clothes and foot gear so as not to contaminate your car, home or office (especially important if you have small children). g. Ask a spouse, partner, significant other or senior officer to be aware of the primary symptoms of lead poisoning and any symptomatic changes in your mental capacity or behavior. 2. Special precautions for pregnant women and fetuses The safety of using firearms during pregnancy has been brought under intense scrutiny due to concerns around the impact of lead poisoning to both the officer and fetus. There is a substantial body of research showing that lead exposure from firearms is harmful to the fetus, even at low levels. Page 2 of 5 Lead Exposure Policy 1017 Below are recommendations all pregnant officers should follow: a. Pregnant officers should not shoot firearms unless in self- defense and should avoid shooting ranges. b. Officers who are breastfeeding should only shoot lead free ammunition. C. Pregnant women should not clean their firearms due to possible exposure to harmful chemicals. Firearms should be cleaned by other persons and away from the pregnant woman. d. Red Wing Police Department should not require pregnant officers to train and qualify with live ammunition and should inform them of the health hazards involved in firearms training. e. If a pregnant officer is due for firearms qualification, an extension will be granted until they have given birth. 3. RANGE SAFETY PROCEDURES A. Precautions can be taken both on and off the range to protect shooters, instructors, and their families from lead poisoning. Administrative controls and good hygiene are two necessary tools. In addition, all shooters and instructors should practice the following dos and don'ts of range and weapons maintenance room safety. The only authorized firearm cleaning area in the Law Enforcement Center is located in the lower level, Room #A131, Weapon Maintenance room. Do not smoke on the range or in the weapons maintenance room. Smoking any type of tobacco products on the range should be prohibited to prevent acceleration of inhaled lead into the blood stream and ingestion of lead transferred from hands to the cigarette, cigar, etc. 2. Do not eat on the range or in the weapons maintenance room. Lead dust on hands and face can be ingested through contact with food. Airborne lead expelled from the weapon can also contaminate food. 3. Don't collect fired brass in baseball caps. Many shooters use their baseball caps to collect spent brass, this contaminates the cap with lead particles. When the cap is placed back on the head, the lead is deposited into the hair and absorbed into the skin. Spent ammunition casings shall be picked up using protective gloves (disposal non-sterile latex) provided by the Police Department. Protective gloves shall be discarded in proper trash collection containers provided by the range. Page 3 of 5 Lead Exposure Policy 1017 4. Be aware face, arms, and hands are covered with lead. Shooters and instructors should wash thoroughly with cold water and plenty of soap. Cold water is preferred because warm water enhances the absorption of lead by opening the pores of the skin. If no water is available, shooters should consider carrying a box of wet hand wipes or a bottle of cool water and a washcloth for this purpose. 5. Be aware that hair and clothes are still contaminated. Shooters and Firearms Instructors should wear an outer garment, such as a jumpsuit or coveralls, or change clothes before going home. Contaminated clothes should not be cleaned by blowing, shaking, or other means that dispense lead into the air. To prevent cross -contamination, range clothes should be washed separately from the family's regular laundry. Families with infants should be particularly careful, since infants are most vulnerable to lead contamination. Changing to clean clothing before leaving the range prevents recontamination of the hands and any contamination of the family vehicle. 6. Shoes can also transport lead into the home. Shoes should be left at the door to prevent tracking lead onto floors and carpets. Ordinary vacuuming does not remove lead from the home, but redistributes it by blowing it in to the air to be inhaled and/or resettled onto the carpet. 7. Do avoid physical contact with family members until after shower, shampoo, and change of clothes. Lead can be transferred by casual contact. Family and friends should not be hugged or kissed until after a shower and a change of clothes. Any physical contacts should be avoided while the shooter is still in range clothing. Ensure that cleaning rags, patches and materials are properly disposed of in the appropriate container. B. Clean—up procedures for LEC cleaning room shall be strictly adhered to. Used cloth patches will be disposed of in the yellow OSHA approved can located in the cleaning room. Officers will use protective gloves when handling solvents and lubricants. The fan will be activated while the room is being used. Officers will use the clearing barrels provided when loading/ unloading firearms. 4. MEDICAL PROCEDURES A. Each firearm instructor and tactical team member shall have his/her blood level tested every twelve months for those exposed to lead. These samplings will be coordinated with and set up by Employee Services. Results of these blood lead level test shall be provided, in writing, to the Page 4 of 5 Lead Exposure Policy 1017 employee within thirty working days of sampling. All medical data shall be considered confidential and all regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 will apply. Page 5 of 5 Lead Exposure Policy 1017