Efforts to strengthen safety culture yield promising results
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) reported significant improvements in safety metrics for 2023, showcasing a focused effort to enhance safety protocols. Heat exhaustion injuries dropped from seven in 2021 to two in 2023, with no reported heat stroke cases. Similarly, the vehicle accident rate decreased from 3.04 to 2.54 per 100,000 kilometers.
Focus Areas for Improvement
Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How highlighted in Parliament that heat injuries and vehicle accidents remain priorities for SAF’s safety culture. Enhanced awareness of heat acclimatization and early symptom detection among servicemen has been pivotal.
Key Measures Against Heat Injuries
To combat heat-related risks, SAF introduced:
Real-time monitoring: Wet bulb globe temperature sensors installed in camps and training areas provide environmental heat metrics for work-rest planning.
Research and innovation: A partnership with the National University of Singapore and DSO National Laboratories led to the establishment of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre, advancing research on soldier heat resilience.
Heat stroke, the most severe form of heat injury, can lead to critical outcomes such as coma and seizures if untreated. SAF’s proactive measures aim to eliminate such risks.
Enhancing Driver Safety
SAF improved driver training by adopting progressive qualifications, starting with smaller vehicles before transitioning to more complex ones. Simulators and driving circuits are now utilized to extend training hours and cover diverse scenarios, including emergencies.
Technology Integration
Safety innovations include proximity sensors and cameras on SAF vehicles, reducing human judgment errors during operations.
These advancements reflect SAF’s commitment to fostering a robust safety culture while ensuring the well-being of its servicemen.
