Skip to main content
IOSH Magazine: Safety, Health and Wellbeing in the world of work - return to the homepage IOSH Magaazine logo
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit @ioshmagazine on Twitter
  • Visit IOSH Magazine on LinkedIn
Global work deaths, diseases and injury stats
The drugs don't work
July/August 2022 issue

Main navigation

  • Home
    • Browse previous issues
    • Member accolades
    • Member tributes
  • Health
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Sickness absence
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Rehabilitation
      • Personal injury
      • Return to work
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Achieving Fellowship
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Professional skills
      • Qualifications
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Jobs
  • Covid-19
  • Knowledge Bank
    • Back to basics
    • Book club
    • Infographics
    • Podcast
    • Reports
    • Webinars
    • Videos
  • Products & Services
  • Management
    • Human factors
      • Sickness absence
      • Accident reduction
      • Behavioural safety
      • Control of contractors
      • Migrant workers
      • Older workers
      • Reporting
      • Safe systems of work
      • Young workers
    • Leadership and management
      • Employee involvement
      • Leadership
      • Management systems
    • Management standards
      • ISO 45001
      • ISO 45003
    • Planning
      • Assurance
      • Compliance
      • Emergency planning
      • Insurance
    • Strategy
      • Corporate governance
      • Performance/results
      • Regulation/enforcement
      • Reputation
    • Sustainability
      • Human capital and Vision Zero
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • Mental health and wellbeing
      • Bullying
      • Drugs and alcohol
      • Mental health
      • Stress
      • Wellbeing
    • Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
      • Ergonomics
      • Manual handling
      • Vibration
    • Occupational cancer
      • Asbestos
      • Hazardous substances
      • Radiation
  • Safety
    • Incident management
      • Chemicals
      • Electricity
      • Fire
      • First aid
      • Slips and trips
    • Non-health related fatalities
      • Road safety
      • Work at height
    • Risk management
      • Confined spaces
      • Disability
      • Legionella
      • Lifting operations
      • Lone workers
      • Noise
      • Personal protective equipment
      • Violence at work
      • Work equipment
      • Workplace transport
  • Skills
    • Communication
    • Personal performance
      • Career development
      • Competencies
      • Personal development
      • Qualifications
      • Professional skills
      • Achieving Fellowship
    • Stakeholder management
    • Working with others
      • Leadership
      • Future Leaders
  • Transport and logistics
  • Third sector
  • Retail
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Rail
  • Rehabilitation
    • Personal injury
    • Return to work
  • Utilities
  • Manufacturing and engineering
  • Construction
  • Sector: IOSH Branch
    • Sector: Northern Ireland
    • Sector: Midland
    • Sector: Merseyside
    • Sector: Manchester and North West Districts
    • Sector: Ireland East
    • Sector: Ireland
    • Sector: Edinburgh
    • Sector: Desmond-South Munster
    • Sector: Qatar
    • Sector: Oman
    • Singapore
    • Sector: South Coast
    • Sector: South Wales
    • Sector: Thames Valley
    • Sector: Tyne and Wear
    • Sector: UAE
    • Sector: West of Scotland
    • Sector: Yorkshire
  • Healthcare
  • Sector: Fire
  • Sector: Financial/general services
  • Sector: Energy
  • Education
  • Sector: Communications and media
  • Chemicals
  • Sector: Central government
  • Catering and leisure
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Sector: Local government
  • Sector: IOSH Group
    • Sector: Financial Services
    • Sector: Sports Grounds and Events
    • Rural industries
    • Sector: railway
    • Public Services
    • Sector: Offshore
    • Sector: Hazardous Industries
    • Sector: Food and Drink
    • Sector: Fire Risk Management
    • Education
    • Construction
    • Sector: Aviation and Aerospace
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Categories
  • Topics
  • Health
  • Occupational cancer
  • Hazardous substances
Regulation/enforcement
Work equipment
Agriculture and forestry
Sector: Central government
Off duty

Gary Cullen, senior safety and risk adviser (UK Farms and Hostels), G’s

Open-access content Wednesday 6th December 2017

gary-cullen-senior-safety-and-risk-adviser-uk-farms-and-hostels-g-s-rev-3-bandw

I did many operational tours during my 25 years' service. One of the main reasons I got into safety after leaving the army is because everything in the military is about safety: you check, check, check. Your job in the army is to protect your country and it's similar in safety: you go to work to protect people, to keep them safe.

I was a weapons instructor. As soon as I got a rifle, I was aware I could shoot quite well. As an instructor, you can tell quickly whether someone has good hand-eye coordination. It's the same with racquet sports and things like that: at school there are always some people who can't throw straight and some who can.

After I left the army and I was settled in Cambridgeshire, I gained a firearms licence. It wasn't possible to keep a rifle at home while I was in the army: you have to have an approved gun cabinet secured to the wall and I was moving around a lot -- to Germany, Northern Ireland and Iraq. Only the licence-holder can access the cabinet and there are very strict controls.

A firearms officer visits you at home to consider things like whether you have children

Gary-Cullen-senior-safety-and-risk-adviser-UK-Farms-and-Hostels-G-s-portraitTo get a licence, you have to go through various controls, such as medical checks. A firearms officer visits you at home to consider things like whether you have children, whether you live in a built-up area, whether you've got land authority to carry out vermin control. I was also questioned on weapon handling: as with safety management, it's all about competency.

When you are first granted a licence it is generally the case that you are given permission to buy small-calibre weapons before you can own higher-calibre ones. I bought two rifles -- a .22 rimfire and a .17HMR -- and I started doing vermin control.

I'm very strict when I'm shooting, in part because of my military background. Things can go wrong, so you've always got to be focused on the job. Mostly I shoot in the evenings, on agricultural land. I might get a call to deal with something in the daytime -- pigeons, for example -- but mostly it's at night, shooting foxes on farmland and so on.

It's strongly recommended that you don't go out alone. Depending on the set-up, there should be two or even three people.

Gary-Cullen-senior-safety-and-risk-adviser-UK-Farms-and-Hostels-G-s-shooting-equipmentEvery night is different. The weather plays a part -- if there are strong winds, for example, you have to adjust your aim to allow for them. You have to establish your line of sight and know whether there are any obstacles.

If I'm shooting on a new piece of land, the first thing I do is a reconnoitre of it in daylight hours with the owner. You don't want to find yourself lost somewhere at 2am!

I've moved on to a .243 rifle now and about three years ago my uncle got me into making my own ammunition (known as reloading). There are a few reasons for doing this. On a licence, there's a maximum amount of ammunition you can hold. Also, factory bullets are accurate, but you might get the odd "off" one. Reloading gives me better accuracy.

As a former guardsman, I relish the attention to detail it requires. You can't rush. There are certainly hazards when you're reloading ammunition because of the extremely flammable powder and the primers, so safety is paramount. I'd always recommend people do a course before they try it; there are YouTube videos on the subject but not all of them are good.

At weekends I'll prep my cases, then I will go and set up. You have to be able to concentrate, so it's doors closed, no noise. I'm a big believer in the idea that if you're going to do it, then you should do it right. It works for me: if I have a target 300 yards away, I'm know I am going to hit it.

If you're interested in trying shooting, it's a good idea to go along to a county fair and try clay pigeon shooting. Shotguns are relatively easy to use, and you'll be given advice on all the dos and don'ts. Some fairs have rifle ranges.

Shooting is not for everyone; it takes time and practice and training, training, training.

Topics:
Hazardous substances
Regulation/enforcement
Work equipment
Agriculture and forestry
Sector: Central government
Off duty

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

DSE Assessor

Coventry
£36000.00 - £40000.00 per annum
Reference
5449758

HSEQ Manager - Relocation Package Available

Fort William
Competitive Salary + Package
Reference
5449757

Health & Safety Officer

England, London
£35000.00 - £45000.00 per annum
Reference
5449756
See all jobs »

Today's top reads

Sign up for regular e-alerts

Receive the latest news and features, free to your inbox

Sign up

Subscribe to IOSH magazine

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
IOSH Covers
​
FOLLOW US
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel +44 (0)20 7880 6200
​

IOSH

About IOSH
Become a member
IOSH Events
MyIOSH

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to IOSH magazine
Write for IOSH magazine

IOSH Magazine

Health
Safety
Management
Skills
IOSH Jobs

© 2022 IOSH • IOSH is not responsible for the content of external sites

ioshmagazine.com and IOSH Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ