SINGAPORE - The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will strengthen training safety in the light of lapses leading to the deaths of two full-time national servicemen this year.
In both cases, the respective Committees of Inquiry (COIs) uncovered breaches of training safety regulations in the events leading to their deaths, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament yesterday.
Private Dominique Sarron Lee, 21, died on April 17 after he experienced breathing difficulties during a training exercise at the Murai Urban Training Facility in Lim Chu Kang. On May 11, Third Sergeant (3SG) Tan Mou Sheng, 20, died after the jeep he was in overturned in the Marsiling training area.
"These two deaths could have been avoided if safety instructions had been followed," Dr Ng said.
Seven servicemen - including a training school's commanding officer - have been relieved of their duties over their involvement in the incidents. They have been redeployed to assignments where they will not supervise soldiers in training or operations, and may face general courts martial as well as prosecution in the civil courts, Dr Ng added.
He announced that the SAF will make "three key systemic changes" across the whole organisation: First, more safety officers will be deployed on the ground. Their primary role will be to ensure that safety measures are followed.
Second, an Army Safety Review Board chaired by a senior civil servant has been set up outside of the Ministry of Defence. It will review the army's overall safety structure, processes and culture.
Third, an SAF Inspectorate will be set up to oversee the entire SAF. It will promulgate best practices and ensure that safety-related policies are sound and up to date. The Inspectorate will report directly to the Chief of Defence Force.
Citing inquiry findings, Dr Ng said Pte Lee had an "acute allergic reaction" after inhaling fumes from zinc chloride, a primary component used in smoke grenades.
He said the zinc-chloride smoke grenades have been used by the SAF since the 1970s, and Pte Lee's death - due directly to zinc-chloride inhalation - was the first in SAF's records.
Dr Ng said SAF has suspended the use of all smoke grenades with zinc chloride in training, and is looking for alternatives.
In 3SG Tan's case, the COI found that the jeep driver, 3SG Cavin Tan, was not licensed to drive the vehicle. The deceased, along with another rear passenger, were not wearing helmets or lap belts at the time of the accident. SAF has since made it mandatory for drivers to display their licences on the dashboards of vehicles.
The Combat Intelligence School, where the deceased was an instructor, was found to have a weak safety culture, with previous cases of unlicensed driving. The school's vehicular-management system has been tightened and SAF has checked other units as well, he said.
Source: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20121115-383471.html
=======================================================================
Some of my friends have boyfriends/husbands in the army. And I quote one of their saying, "Dear SAF, we sent our boys to you and you once again place their lives in danger."
Am I wrong to not have much feelings when I saw news reports of our soldiers dead when they are on duty? But in my opinion, I find that there will always be a certain level of risk in any job taken. Perhaps it's because I do not have my own children yet.
However, I do believe should *touchwood* situations happen, we as direct family members, should and definitely must receive some form of compensation. To me, the SAF must not be unfeeling or unmoved at all. And of course, they should do their best at ensuring the safety level. There should not be tardy job done at this.
Why the driver did not highlight to the superior that he has no license? Afraid, obedient or what ? What's your guess? If you are assigned to drive but you do not have a license, will you voice out? What will happen if you tell your superior you have no license to drive when your superior assign you to drive?
If you are the superior, will you double check whether the driver has a license or do you think it is common understanding that your driver will know that no license can't drive and will highlight to you if he doesn't have one.
Most probably because its "common practice"?
they should fence up all camps first, then disallow foregn labor like cheenas and bangls into army, navy, air force open house.