ABSTRACT
Before any firearm is placed in store after receipt or examined at the workbench it must be routinely checked to ensure that it is not loaded by members of the firearms team or
by properly trained staff. The most secure way of maintaining compliance with such a policy is to have the scientist initial and date a label attached to the weapon each time. Cartridges should not be chambered to check their fit, or worked through the action of a self-loading arm in any place other than the firing range. At all times safe working practices must be maintained, and weapons should be double checked for safety, preferably by another person, after range firing has taken place. A second person should always be on hand to assist in the event of an accident. This second person must always be positioned to the rear of the firer whenever the weapon is loaded or fired. Failure to comply with these simple guidelines will eventually result in an incident.
