Rifle and Pistol Shooting

As a school activity, shooting should be restricted to secondary school programs.
Shooting requires strict adherence to safety guidelines. The activity should include instruction in weapon safety and theory of small arms fire.

As part of the process of safety self-regulation, all persons engaging in this activity should identify the hazards, assess their significance and manage the potential risks including any additional hazards not mentioned here

Hazards that may be encountered in rifle and pistol shooting include:

• equipment (e.g. ammunition, weapon, target)
• adverse climatic conditions
• noise

The categorisation of these conditions is subjective and offered as a starting point for risk management planning. The actual degree of risk is best ascertained by persons with intimate local knowledge present at the site of the activity.

Participation in rifle and pistol shooting involves very high risk (level 4).

One adult present should have knowledge of, and an ability to perform, first aid procedures.

If an adult other than a registered teacher is engaged for instruction, a teacher should be present to take overall responsibility.

Teachers must observe the requirements of the Weapons Act 1990 at all times.

The qualifications listed in this section are minimums for each type of situation. Leaders are encouraged to seek training to raise their qualification level above the minimum listed.

The leader must be:

• a registered teacher with expertise (formal qualifications to undertake the activity) in rifle or pistol shooting. The teacher must hold qualifications from the Queensland Pistol Association for pistol shooting, or Queensland Small Bore Rifle Shooting Association, or Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia, or Department of Defence for rifle shooting
• an adult with the above qualifications, if a teacher with the relevant expertise is not available.

The range should be currently licensed and special conditions, as determined under the licence, should be met before shooting starts. The leader should consult with the range supervisor before use.

School ranges may be established through the Commonwealth Inspector of Ranges, Victoria Barracks, Brisbane. Prior approval is required from the Queensland Police Service, the Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Education.

A first aid kit should be available at all venues where classes and competitions are conducted.

The teacher should ensure that the activity includes the following instruction before any range activity is undertaken:

• care of weapons
• weapons safety
• condition of weapon readiness (this will vary according to weapon, though ideally all weapons used should be the same)
• theory of firing - hold, aim, fire
• range procedures

Safety considerations should be continually reinforced throughout the activity.

Appropriate ear protection should be worn.

Weapons should be declared safe after inspection by a range safety officer before any movement to retrieve targets, i.e. there should be no ammunition on mound, bolts should be opened and breaches inspected.

A reconciliation of ammunition should be undertaken at the end of the shoot.

Bolts should be separated from weapons for storage.

Schools should purchase requirements regularly so that stockpiling of ammunition is avoided.

Weapons should be maintained in first-class condition and should be inspected annually by a gunsmith.

The range safety officer should nominate the number of shooters on the firing mound at any one time.

Only shooters nominated by the teacher or leader should be on the mound while shooting is in progress.

Shooting should not commence until the range safety officer or leader gives the signal.

Prevailing weather conditions should be considered. If weather conditions are unsuitable, the activity should be curtailed and appropriate shelter should be sought.

• HLS-PR-013: Developing a Sun Safety Strategy
• SCM-PR-002: School Excursions
• HLS-PR-005: Injury, Illness and Dangerous Event Recording and Reporting
• HLS-PR-003: First Aid for Schools and Non-school Locations