More safety lapses have been reported in the SAF. But is it truly due to an increase in safety concerns…
Or is it actually because more people are choosing to report now?
You see, I’m theorising that it’s something like the #MeToo movement.
Back then, soldiers may have easily let it go, either because they were afraid of getting into trouble or because they could not be bothered.
But it’s a whole different ball game now.
And that’s especially so when soldiers have been granted absolute confidentiality when making reports, a notion that wouldn’t have been possible just a year or two ago.
More Safety Lapses Reported in SAF But It Could’ve Been Due to More People Reportin
According to TODAYonline, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has issued an ultimatum:
More servicemen, it seems, are reporting safety hazards in camp.
To put it into perspective, 2019 saw a whopping 49% more of such reports, as compared to 2018.
For the record, the number each year is reported to range in the thousands.
Over the years, SAF servicemen have been encouraged to bring up such safety issues through their unit and safety hotlines.
They were also allowed anonymity while doing so.
However, it was not until last year that confidentiality truly became a top priority.
Just last year, Brigadier-General (BG) Tan Chee Wee was designated as SAF’s first Inspector-General, after SAF witnessed a shocking 4 deaths within 18 months.
According to TODAYonline, the Inspector-General’s Office (IGO) was created to mitigate safety risks in Army units.
And it appears that Tan’s immediate task was to do just that, with an open reporting culture deemed to be an utmost priority.
In a letter one month after the appointment, BG Tan announced that servicemen will be granted topmost confidentiality when they “leak” safety mistakes or near-misses.
Commanders who punish servicemen for such reports will also be disciplined in turn.
And The Improvement Has Been Applauded
In an interview, the chairman of SAF’s External Review Panel – which comprises 12 safety experts and professionals – was also keen to laud SAF’s recent progression.
Apparently, the first panel had advised SAF to construct a stronger safety culture.
Because, you know, Mission Success, Safety Always.
“Over the last three years, I am quite happy to see that SAF has been quite dogged in pursuing it. That is something very positive,” he said.
Deaths
The change came after a shocking four deaths were reported within the span of just eighteen months.
On 15 September 2017, full-time National Serviceman (NSF) Gavin Chan was ejected from a Bionix during an overseas training exercise, and died.
On 30 April 2018, NSF Dave Lee passed away, around two weeks after displaying symptoms of heat injury following an 8km fast march.
A few months later, on 3 November 2018, NSF Liu Kai was driving a Land Rover when a Bionix vehicle reversed into him. He died as a result of the impact.
And on 23 January, actor NSman Aloysius Pang died after suffering injuries in a Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH). He had been carrying out repair work.
If anything, here’s one important lesson: sometimes, we really need a crisis to improve.
Featured Image: Phuong D. Nguyen / Shutterstock.com
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