Health and Safety - Case Studies

David Jones

When David Jones, 45, left the Royal Engineers five years ago, he was a Lieutenant Colonel who had served with the Gurkhas and specialised in diving and explosive ordnance disposal. Service all round the world had included operations and six months downhill skiing in Austria. However, he had also started an underwater school business, Triton Scuba, and was not looking forward to an anticipated posting to the MoD.

As well as his diving background, he was an experienced trainer and expedition leader, so had qualifications in both these fields. He was also a first aid instructor and supervisor, and was able to develop this into emergency first response. Indeed, he expects that the latter will soon attract more interest than the diving training he offers. He also rates ‘general management, the capacity to deal with a number of unrelated projects, and the ability to get on with people’ as assets that he developed in the Armed Forces.

Jones used his resettlement time to gain technical instructor qualifications in diving, first aid and oxygen provision; also training in ‘hazardous marine life injuries and the use of defibrillators. As a result, he now runs four training companies and continues to work for useful qualifications. The most recent additions to his portfolio are ‘an emergency first response first aid training centre and a community interest company for social enterprise projects.

‘When you run your own company you have to be able to do everything.’ Having recently started a Business and Management Degree at PortsmouthUniversity, he likes ‘doing a hobby for a living and passing on knowledge at instructor level.’ Rating both his careers to date as ‘great fun because they deal with people and neither is a nine-to-five job,’ he nevertheless sees a clear difference in motivational and leadership styles. ‘I still get the satisfaction but, rather than chasing a good CR and promotion, I chase profitability. My key performance indicators have definitely changed.’

He reports a significant difference in salary alongside a challenging and fulfilling new career.

Published July 07

Simon Watson

Safety Health Environmental & Quality Advisor Simon Watson, 27, left the Infantry as a Corporal last year after nine years of operational and peace-time service. He wanted a more settled life, and already held a number of health and safety qualifications. He also rates ‘man-management skills, the ability to relate to individuals and understand the problems they face, and learning that that there is always a bigger picture,’ as other qualities developed in Army service.

A Career Transition Workshop was useful in the creation of CV, while resettlement training with Corporate Risk Systems Limited provided ‘advice that was right on the money as this course with the subsequent qualification helped to find a job within the health and safety arena. Very friendly and approachable with excellent training facilities.’

His role is to ensure that the workforce, from operatives to senior management, works to the required standards and offer coaching and advice. Watson carries out safety presentations and training, conducts audits on management safety systems, and reviews and amends policies and procedures.

‘I like the responsibility and the challenge of the job. It is a very high risk environment and I get to spend a lot of time outdoors interacting with different people and cultures not too different from the Army. Especially with work loads, the ability to manage your time effectively is paramount. It can be very hectic and sometimes you feel the pace. I work pretty early and long hours.’

Published April 07

Dave Middlemiss

Five years ago, Flight Sergeant Dave Middlemiss left RAF Innsworth after nearly 25 years as a medical specialist. Service around the UK and Cyprus, and operations in the Gulf region, had been rewarded with a Commander-in-Chief’s Commendation, but he now wanted to start his own business. Formally qualified in teaching, education, practice management, and health and safety management, he was an experienced medic and manager, with theoretical and practical health and safety skills that he refined during resettlement on a NEBOSH General Certificate taken with TidworthCollege.

He also attended a business start-up course, since his aim was self-employment. Ever since then, Middlemiss has run his own company. As managing director, he is legally and practically in charge of his own destiny, and he relishes the daily challenges this provides. He is responsible for ‘the management of a training company, its staff and 200 associated trainers. This involves controlling budgets, developing new business and designing business strategies to enhance commercial ability. I am also responsible for the implementation of business policies, standards, and health and safety.’

‘I like the freedom of choice; however, the long hours can be frustrating. I still enjoy working with people and helping them to achieve a qualification, as well as practising my management skills. I have the freedom to make decisions, and I spend more time at home, while earning more money.’

Published November 07

Neil Wibrew

In 1998, after eight years’ service, Marine Neil Wibrew left the Corps for a new career because ‘promotion was dead man’s shoes’. Tours in the UK including Northern Ireland, Norway, Spain and France had taught him ‘to communicate with different people easily, to talk to clients and candidates and to be calm in a crisis; while experience gained through abseiling and climbing helped in my chosen field of rope and height access.’

He gained a City & Guilds in domestic plumbing on a ‘well run and useful’ resettlement course at Catterick, before setting up as a self-employed plumber and sub-contracting to other companies.

Now aged 33, Wibrew is director of Absen Rope Access Specialists, working at height himself and delivering IRATA – the rope access trade association training – to others. His eight years’ experience has included accessing high-rise buildings, bridges, towers, chimneys and inaccessible structures; carrying out maintenance, surveys and repairs.

He enjoys the ‘variety of both people and jobs which keeps things interesting’, and finds that ‘being your own boss allows you to work when you like, although I am working much harder now but earning more money for it. I get up earlier now to commute into cities to work, but it’s earning me money not someone else.’

Published February 08

Darren Coombs

During his 17 years in the Army, 39-year-old Supply Specialist (Class 1) Corporal Darren Coombs of the Royal Logistic Corps had served in the UK, Germany and in the First Gulf War. He had also become a Member of the Association of Industrial Road Safety Officers and of the Institute of Advanced Motorists. He also now values his driving instructor and military instructor training and his ‘extensive experience.’ Qualified as a lift truck instructor examiner and an LGV instructor, he was also a vocational assessor.

His Career Transition Workshop taught him ‘how to conduct myself at an interview and to compile a CV. A very useful 28-day resettlement package with Red Rose Training included carriage of dangerous goods by road, and a, CITB heavy plant operators course and gained a huge amount from it. I also completed a First Aid at Work Course.

‘My first job was as a base training officer and commercial instructor, also responsible for the delivery and guidance of NVQ based qualifications.’ Coombs is now a training manager for Nuco Training Limited, supporting more than 1,700 trainers, many of whom are ex-Service people. ‘I am responsible for the delivery of instructor or training the trainer and health & safety courses. I also deal with technical enquiries.

‘I enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds, facilitating large groups and passing on knowledge. In addition, I enjoy arranging courses, meetings and working on new course outlines and projects. My role is rewarded with a high level of job satisfaction. In the last nine years my salary has increased on an annual basis, with the most significant increase occurring when I left the Forces.’

Published July 08

Mike James

Combat engineer Warrant officer Class 2 Mike James, 43, left the Royal Engineers three years ago after 24 years, having served in the UK, Northeren Ireland, Germany, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Jamaica and Poland; with operational tours in Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Macedonia. Engineering and health & safety qualifications were matched by leadership, management (of people, time and projects) and planning skills.

A Career Transition Workshop ‘helped me to plan my Service exit carefully,’ and was followed by formal occupational health & safety, facilities management and PRINCE 2 project management training. However, he found employment through the Opportunities New Zealand Employers Expo in London, and he has been working with the same company after receiving a job offer as a safety, quality and environmental advisor, and moving to the other side of the globe.

For the last six months, James has been Divisional Maintenance Manager in Waikato with Downer EDI Works, a very large infrastructure management company. ‘I manage a total of six local authority and state highway maintenance contracts, averaging 80 staff with an annual turnover in excess of $30m. In addition I manage the Paeroa Branch civil engineering, infrastructure and asset maintenance activities. Main duties are general branch management, staff development, client and stakeholder liaison, preparing bids and reviewing contracts.

He enjoys an ‘exceedingly diverse job with full financial management and running my division,’ employing unionised staff and working a 60-hour week. An initially lower salary is offset by reduced living costs and excellent opportunities ‘… as long as you willing to put in the hard yards.’

Published November 08