SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will decommission all 19 pump wells located at fire stations, on the recommendation of a Board of Inquiry (BOI) convened by the Home Affairs Minister to investigate the death of full-time national serviceman (NSF) Kok Yuen Chin.
In May, Corporal (CPL) Kok was found unconscious at the bottom of a 12m-deep fire station pump well which was filled with water.
AdvertisementThe BOI's key findings and recommendations on CPL Kok's death were released on Thursday (Sep 13) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The inquiry found that CPL Kok was pushed into the pump well at 9.07pm on May 13 as part of a celebration by members of his Rota to mark his impending ORD. He was rescued from the well 36 minutes later and eventually found to have died from drowning.
During its discussions with SCDF, the BOI found that pump well testing and training can be centralised at the Civil Defence Academy (CDA) without compromising SCDF’s operational effectiveness and it is therefore not necessary for each fire station to have its own pump well, MHA said.
"The Board therefore recommended that the fire station pump wells be decommissioned, to remove the risk of unauthorised access. For the pump wells at CDA, the Board has suggested that SCDF take additional measures to restrict access and ensure their safe usage," according to the press release.
AdvertisementAdvertisementINCIDENT TOOK PLACE DESPITE "CLEAR ANTI-RAGGING POLICIES AND FRAMEWORKS"
MHA said the Board found that the SCDF had "clear anti-ragging policies and frameworks". There were anti-ragging briefing sessions for all servicemen at the point of enlistment and during training. These messages were further reinforced through regular interviews and informal sessions with NSFs by commanders. Posters were also displayed at fire stations to remind servicemen of SCDF’s anti-ragging policy.
The incident took place "in spite of these measures", the Board said.
Nonetheless, it recommended that SCDF further review its anti-ragging measures, particularly in terms of helping servicemen to better internalise its anti-ragging policy.
The Board also recommended that SCDF look into having more hands-on instructional methods to teach servicemen on how to identify and stop ragging, and equip servicemen with a standard set of response lines to help them say “no” to ragging.
The BOI also found that SCDF had "clear disciplinary and whistle-blowing policies". It recommended that these policies be further enhanced to give greater assurance to victims and observers that their interests will be protected, and that SCDF expand the number of channels through which servicemen can report ragging incidents.
In addition, the Board noted SCDF’s "zero-tolerance policy" towards all forms of unauthorised activities, including ragging and recommended that SCDF ensures that its Commanders are trained to help them pre-empt ragging amongst officers under their charge.
"Officers who do not hold command positions but are senior in terms of rank or length of service should also be further trained to reinforce an anti-ragging culture within their own circles of influence," MHA said.
It recommended that SCDF review how it recognises positive behaviours demonstrated by officers who show care for fellow colleagues. This could help to strengthen SCDF’s anti-ragging ethos, according to the press release.
Other recommendations include enhancing CCTV coverage in vulnerable areas within SCDF areas and strengthening training on risk management and workplace safety, MHA stated.
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