Inclusion of Training Safety in Appraisal for SAF Leadership

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for Defence whether training safety and health issues can be included as a distinct key performance indicator in a commander's annual performance appraisal in the Singapore Armed Forces and in the evaluation process of units for the annual SAF Best Unit and Best NS Unit competitions.

Madam, the safety and health of our soldiers are of utmost importance to the SAF. The SAF holds our commanders to high standards of safety and health in their units. The Member has asked for the annual performance scheme, and I will tell him that the appraisal of our commanders includes an assessment of how well their units meet standards in safety and health. Those who uphold high standards are duly recognised. If commanders or their units are found to have unsatisfactory safety or health standards, they not only receive poor performance appraisals, but it is something docked against them. Commanders who flout safety rules or allow unsafe practices are also dealt with seriously.

The annual Best Unit Competition has always assessed units in the areas of safety and health. In this regard, our units are audited annually on training safety, occupational safety and health, and motor-transport safety. So, to be able to participate in the Best Unit Competition, units must achieve a high safety

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score of at least 90%. This applies to both active and NS units.

Beyond using safety as a key performance indicator, for our commanders and our units, we have always emphasised the importance of a strong safety culture. Units are encouraged to report near-misses, unsafe practices and safety breaches. Commanders have been reminded, and are reminded often, that safety is a command responsibility.

Madam, I thank the Minister for his reply, especially his assurance that safety and health issues are taken seriously by MINDEF. But what I fail to understand is that, despite all these measures, we have training accidents which are fairly severe in nature. Is it a result of a failure in the officers and men and women of the SAF to internalise this training safety and health culture? Or, could it be that issues, such as training safety and health, although being measured, are perhaps not being measured enough such that the commanders and officers tend not to pay sufficient attention? I think there is concern about the frequency and extent of service injuries in recent times.

Mdm Speaker, MINDEF obviously shares those concerns. Every time an incident happens, we have to review the system and make sure that it is robust. On the other hand, we have to benchmark ourselves in terms of the number of injuries and deaths, against something that we can objectively measure. I would say that, as a general benchmark, our rates are fairly low, whether it is for the various services or across the board. Having said that, we are always striving for "nil" incidents. Each time something happens, we will just have to continue to strengthen the system. Do the recent incidents reflect an attitude? This is certainly something that we do not want to happen and that is why we have taken certain steps, as I have made known in my Ministerial Statement the last time Parliament sat, about how we are stepping up the safety culture and we will continue to monitor this very carefully.