OSHA ammo ban?

[Rampager]

:eek: I read that OSHA is proposing new rules that bans ammo and reloading components, thus making it impossible for us to order and receive ammo. I assume that Fed-Ex and UPS and other carriers will just stop shipping it, not to mention the regs on gun shops would make it very tough on them.

Anyone else heard about this? I would hope it doesn't have a chance of passing, but you never know.

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main

Go to the Option 4 drop down menu and select "Document ID"
Key this ID in to the action box ... OSHA-2007-0032
Click on the SUBMIT button.
It says this is open to public comment until 7-12-07

[MID]

Lots of govenmental jibber jabber. By the time i got past all the bull crap i was tired of reading. Whats the jist of this proposal ?

[rustypirate]

It looks like this is a proposed update of the OSHA standards to meet current DOT, ATF, and other standards.

I really did not see anything in this which would affect anything. The changes proposed in the transportation of explosives are adjustments to match the existing DOT standards, so they are already in place anyway.

[Rampager]

Well hopefully that is all it is (a little more red tape). I just hope this isn't some kind of backdoor ammo ban :tinfoil:.

I'm not trying to sound as an alarmist, but I think we need to stay on top of this and keep a close eye on it. My fear is that if they make it too difficult for carriers (UPS), they as any business would, will just throw up their hands and say "no more ammo", ala ebay, paypal.

Hopefully it just requires a little more training for those involved in the handling etc. Perhaps most of the new regs are probably already in place...don't know.

I hate trying to read through this type of mumbo jumbo too...I found this that sort summarizes it:http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=14100



:America:

[rustypirate]

Actually I think that it will make it easier for transportation companies because now they only have to adhere to the DOt rules, and not have to worry about seperate rules just for OSHA.

Likewise, they will not have to worry over OSHA regulating such things as magazines, because they determined that those fall under the jurisdiction of the BATFE.

All in all, I think that this is one of the GOOD changes, as it reduces the government regulation and red tape rather than increasing it.

[okie shooter]

I believe by magazines, they are not talking about what most of us own, they are talking about bulk powder and explosive storage magazines, which are still covered by atf for the most part.

The problem with the ammo, and explosives communties for regulation, is there are so many agencies with regulations. DOT, OSHA, DOD and ATF, depending on who you work for and what you are making or transporting. Additionally there is NFPA and covering codes and regulations, thus no single unifieing structure to go to when designing processes dealing with loading, assembly and packout of ammunition items. It makes it a pain in the bottom to make sure your designs meet criteria for all of the above agencies and others. I guess everyone out there doesnt deal with them but some days I have too due to the job, I am not sure what this regulation will have to effect my job duties and such but it is interesting reading.

[DaCapster]

OSHA can suck my left ........
Watch ammo prices triple....that next? you can't have ammo in your house/car?

[Geilt]

Correct me if I am wrong but OSHA rules don't apply to private residences. Only places of employment.

If this is in fact the case, once you take delivery of the materials (powder, primers and ammo) and leave the business premises, the OSHA rules cease to apply. While you are transporting them DOT regulations are applied, along with others. Then when you hit your property line the DOT rules drop leaving you with the normal local/state/federal regulations we all have to follow.

Frankly I am all in favor of OSHA updating thier guidelines. Bringing them in line with other statutes makes things easier.

[Rampager]

Update....this is good news :thumbup:

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3162

Labor Department Announces It Will Revise Overreaching OSHA Explosives Rule

Monday, July 16, 2007


The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it will significantly revise a recent proposal for new “explosives safety” regulations that caused serious concern among gun owners. OSHA had originally set out to update workplace safety regulations, but the proposed rules included restrictions that very few gun shops, sporting goods stores, shippers, or ammunition dealers could comply with.



Gun owners had filed a blizzard of negative comments urged by the NRA, and just a week ago, OSHA had already issued one extension for its public comment period at the request of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. After continued publicity through NRA alerts and the outdoor media, and after dozens of Members of Congress expressed concern about its impact, OSHA has wisely decided to go back to the drawing board.



Working with the NRA, Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) planned to offer a floor amendment to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill this Wednesday when the House considers this legislation. His amendment would have prohibited federal funds from being used to enforce this OSHA regulation.



Such an amendment is no longer necessary since Kristine A. Iverson, the Labor Department’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, sent Rep. Rehberg a letter, dated July 16, stating that it “was never the intention of OSHA to block the sale, transportation, or storage of small arms ammunition, and OSHA is taking prompt action to revise” this proposed rule to clarify the purpose of the regulation.



Also, working with the NRA, Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) gathered signatures from 25 House colleagues for a letter, dated July 11, expressing concerns about this proposed OSHA rule. The letter calling the proposal “an undue burden on a single industry where facts do not support the need outlined by this proposed rule” and “not feasible, making it realistically impossible for companies to comply with its tenets.”



The OSHA proposal would have defined “explosives” to include “black powder, … small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primers, [and] smokeless propellant,” and treated these items the same as the most volatile high explosives.



Under the proposed rule, a workplace that contained even a handful of small arms cartridges, for any reason, would have been considered a “facility containing explosives” and therefore subject to many impractical restrictions. For example, no one could carry “firearms, ammunition, or similar articles in facilities containing explosives … except as required for work duties.” Obviously, this rule would make it impossible to operate any kind of gun store, firing range, or gunsmith shop.



The public comment website for the proposed rule is no longer accessible. The Labor Department will publish a notice in the July 17 Federal Register announcing that a new rule proposal will soon be drafted for public comment. Needless to say, the NRA monitors proposed federal regulations to head off this kind of overreach, and will be alert for OSHA’s next draft.



Read the letter to Cong. Rehberg from the Labor Dept.
http://www.nraila.org/images/osha.pdf