Range Safety Officer benefits

[Gil Martin]

Our Range Safety Officers pull four-hour shifts. They supervise ten pistol ranges (eight pistol ranges are reserved for large handgun events) so two pistol ranges are active and four rifle ranges. We verify membership cards and guest passes and ensure safety and range rules are being followed. So on an average day, there may be up to ten shooters on the line at one time. There are a total of eight pistol benches and sixteen rifle benches. That means that RSOs are usually on the move going up and down the line. The vast majority of our members are safe and tend to follow our range rules. We tried to use volunteers and have members police each other. That rarely works so we went to paid Range Safety Officers. At this time we have about a dozen Range Safety Officers and at least one is on duty when the ranges are open daily from 8:30 A.M. to sunset. We do staff up on weekends and prior to the opening of big game seasons when more members are on site. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

When I was the Firearms Coordinator for the agency, our regulations mandated one range safety officer for every six agents on the firing line. That did not include the coordinator; thus I ran 10 to 12 agents on the firing line and had two safety officers watching the agents.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

All of our Range Safety Officers have achieved their NRA Range Safety Officer Certificates. We simply could not afford to have multiple officers on the range at one time when only a few members are on the line. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

I understand NOT staffing RSOs when NO ONE was on the firing line. My question was: HOW many RSOs are on the line for what NUMBER of shooters, per range? You mentioned multiple ranges so let us try again with a basic question. What is the Ratio of RSOs per Shooters per Range? Be well.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

Adam,
One RSO is scheduled per four-hour shift to cover the rifle and pistol ranges for most of the year. As I stated in my posts, we staff up a bit prior to the big game hunting seasons as needed. Perhaps a bureaucrat could determine the ratio of RSOs per number of benches. Remember, we are not a big budget federal agency and our members usually police each other. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

Are you having a bad day? My question was: How many shooters does a RSO supervise? Your club has, as you said, 5,000 members, that is a brigade, or half a division. I would not call that size club small.

I have been a certified instructor long enough to know that no RSO can possibly supervise multiple ranges. I apologize, I misunderstood you to say you were a Range Safety Officer. If my prior post confused you, I am staying off your range. Meanwhile, please contact NRA for RSO guidelines, if there is a need. A $2.00 CVS calculator will assist you with determining ratios, the instructions come with the calculator.

Be well.

Adam

[Gil Martin]

Of course, all 5,000 club members do not and would not show up at the range at the same time. Do all members show up at the same time at your club? On an average day at this time of year the average number of shooters varies from 10 to 20 per four-hour shift. We have no problem providing effective oversight of our range operations. Your questions do not have any basis in what we are capable of handling. Are you an NRA certified Range Safety Officer? All the best?
Gil