- February 2, 2019
- Posted by: Sage Shield Safety Consultants
- Category: Overseas Occupational Health And Safety News
SINGAPORE – A Committee of Questions (COI), chaired for the first time by a State Court-nominated judge, was assembled on Jan 25 to check out the situations resulting in the death of Singapore star Aloysius Pang while he was on reservist duty, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) announced on Wednesday (Jan 30).
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen will also deliver a ministerial statement dealing with recent nationwide service training deaths when Parliament next rests on Feb 11.
Since June in 2015, Mindef has actually consisted of serving or former judges as individuals qualified to chair the COI, in addition to senior civil servants.
While the statement did not name the members, the ministry stated that the other members of the independent COI are an expert medical professional, a member of the External Review Panel on Singapore Army Security (ERPSS), a member of the Workplace Safety and Health Council, and a senior-ranked nationwide serviceman.
None of the members work within Mindef or are SAF regulars, the ministry included.
Corporal Very First Class (NS) Aloysius Pang was doing repair work inside a Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH) throughout a yearly live shooting exercise in New Zealand on Jan 19 when he sustained a serious injury that eventually resulted in his death four days later, on Jan 23.
The operationally-ready national serviceman (NSman) was an armament technician from the 268th Battalion, Singapore Artillery.
Hundreds turned up to pay their final respects to star Aloysius Pang at his wake at MacPherson Road. The star was given a funeral with full military honours on Sunday. http://str.sg/oL2N!.?.!Posted by His death is the fifth reported because September 2017, following 4 preceding years of zero training-and operations-related deaths. The COI, whose findings will be revealed, has complete powers
and access to material and witnesses to investigate the scenarios leading to the death. It will also determine the contributory elements and make suggestions
to correct any lapses revealed. The COI, which was convened by the Army Council on Jan 25, will submit its complete report to
the ERPSS for remarks. Mindef on Wednesday also supplied details of the security record for the SSPH and the standard operating treatments needed of its operating and maintenance team. Read also It said that in the last 15 years of SSPH operations, there has not been
any reported injury of servicemen due to the weapon decreasing for upkeep, or operating in or shooting of the SSPH. In the very same duration, more than 1,000 servicemen, NSmen and regulars have actually been trained to run the SSPH, with around 12,500 rounds fired. Chief of Army Major-General Goh Si Hou said at an interview on Jan 24 that Mr Pang was in the SSPH cabin with two other servicemen-another specialist and a gun detachment commander -when the occurrence happened. Preliminary findings revealed that Mr Pang suffered crush injuries when he was unable to leave the weapon barrel’s method as it was decreased.
When maintenance work is needed throughout training and operations, a group of technicians will be triggered and they will take charge of the SSPH. Read According to the info released by the ministry, the specialists might require the assistance
of the gun commander. The army service technicians are also trained and needed to comply with the very same drills and safety procedures as the four-man crew that operates the SSPH. Mindef included that the SAF has actually reduced the training pace for leaders and soldiers to evaluate security protocols and plans in their
systems. “The reduced training tempo will stay in location until the SAF is satisfied that training and other activities can be performed securely.
The SAF is dedicated to strengthening the security culture on the ground,”it stated. This short article was first published in The Straits Times. Consent needed for recreation.
Source
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/aloysius-pangs-death-independent-committee-inquiry-convened-investigate-case
