Fact Sheet: The External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS)

A Safety and Systems Review Directorate (SSRD) was formed to oversee the conduct of safety and systems reviews for MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). SSRD set up its first external review panel, the External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) in 2013, to review various aspects of SAF safety over its three-year tenure. The review includes a series of visits to Army, Navy and Air Force units to assess the SAF’s safety practices and recommend improvements.

Headed by Mr Alan Chan, CEO of SPH, the panel consists of senior, respected professionals from public and private sectors relevant to SAF operations. The members are experts in the areas of safety, medical, maritime, aviation, logistics, psychology and law. The panel has since visited the Basic Military Training Centre, Officer Cadet School and the Specialist Cadet School. These visits gave the panel opportunities to observe the management and practice of safety on the ground.

ERPSS will conclude their study in 2016 after a series of working visits to SAF units and exercises. Interim progress reports will be provided to the MINDEF leadership over the course of the three years.

The External Review Panel on SAF Safety (ERPSS) comprises 10 experts and professionals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to capture a broad spectrum of views and perspectives. The members are:

Mr Alan Chan Heng Loon Chairman

Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Mr Heng Chiang Gnee

Executive Director, Singapore Maritime Institute Mr Ho Siong Hin

Commissioner for Workplace Safety & Health, Ministry of Manpower

Brigadier-General (Vol) Ishak Ismail

Chief Executive Officer, Defence Services, CWT Limited Dr Kenneth Kwok Fook Kay

Programme Director, Combat Protection & Performance Prog, DSO National Laboratories Associate Professor Aymeric Lim Yu Tang

Senior Consultant, Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, NUHS; Chairman Medical Board, NUHBrigadier-General (Ret) Charles Sih Seah Wee

Divisional Vice President, Safety, Security and Environment, Singapore Airlines, Dr Jukka Takala

Executive Director, Workplace Safety and Health Institute; Adjunct Professor, Tampere University of Technology, Finland

Ms Joy Tan Whei Mien

Partner Deputy Head - Commercial & Corporate Disputes Practice, Wong Partnership LLP

Professor Julian Thumboo

Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Singapore General Hospital