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Making Safety A Top Priority

  • 18 Nov 2022
  • Written by: Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore), AAIS

With the recovery of air travel, the Singapore aviation sector has recovered about 90% of its pre-COVID workforce at the end of 2022. Aerospace activities have also turned the corner with domestic aerospace production exceeding pre-pandemic levels by March 2022 and output growth recorded as high as 16% over 2019 (baseline) levels in September. This positive sentiment is expected to continue in the coming months, with most Singapore-based aerospace companies foreseeing growth to improve in terms of output, new orders, exports, and employment. Manpower demand is also expected to increase in 2023 as air travel further improves.

As the tempo of operations continues to pick up, an influx of fresh talents is expected who will need to be familiarised with safety practices and considerations. At the same time, experienced aerospace personnel will benefit from consistent refreshers to remain up-to-date and keep safety protocols top-of-mind. There are also new considerations in the post-pandemic landscape such as the upkeep of aircraft, especially those that were kept in storage, the introduction of new technologies as well as changes to the operating environment.

In alignment with growing interest and emphasis on safety, the Association of Aerospace Industries (Singapore) organised its first AAIS Industry Safety Week from 14 to 18 November 2022, calling upon members of the industry to renew and reiterate the commitment to safety at all levels. A series of events conducted in conjunction with the campaign saw over 70 aerospace and aviation organisations participating in various activities, including seminars, webinars, and site visits for cross-learning of best practices.

Aviation Safety: In conversation with CAAS and Aerospace Leaders

Kicking off Safety Week, AAIS held a hybrid seminar on 14 November to discuss aviation safety in aerospace MRO and manufacturing. The event featured industry leaders including Mr Oliver Chamberlain, Manufacturing Executive, Rolls-Royce Singapore, and Mr Mark Loh, General Manager, Bell Textron Asia, as well as a representative from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Mr Leong Chin Sing, Senior Manager (Maintenance Organisation).

The speakers shared valuable insights on safety policies and best practices for MRO and aerospace organizations. Their personal anecdotes added a unique perspective on the importance of safety and the differences in safety cultures across organizations and countries. The experts emphasized the need for continual improvement in safety management and called for collaborative efforts to improve aviation safety awareness. During the panel discussion, participants were engaged in topics such as integrating safety into aerospace curricula, increasing safety training, and the role of regulators in safety management.

From left: Mr Chamberlain, Mr Leong, and Mr Loh engaging with participants at a discussion on aviation safety in aerospace MRO and manufacturing organisations

Visit to SIAEC’s Aviation and Workplace Safety Promotion Centres

Members of the AAIS Management Committee and their safety officers were invited to visit SIA Engineering Company’s (SIAEC) safety promotion centres on 15th November for cross-learning. The visit included interactive tours of the Aviation Safety Promotion Centre and the Workplace Safety Promotion Centre, which were established by SIAEC to enhance safety training programmes for its staff and foster a safety culture and mindset in the workplace.

Participants were impressed with the comprehensive and engaging set-up of the Aviation Safety Centre, which included immersive media, informational displays and interactive activities. The Workplace Safety Promotion Centre provided an integrated learning environment that combined classroom-based lessons with experiential and visual learning.

Participants of the site visit organised by AAIS to the SIAEC Safety Promotion centres on 15 November 2022

WSH New Code of Practice + Data-Driven Risk-Based Approach

A webinar held on 17 November, switched gears to workplace safety and health (WSH) practices. The keynote speaker, Mr Christopher Koh, General Manager of the Singapore WSH Council, provided a briefing on a new code of practice (COP) that details the duties of company CEOs and directors on WSH. This new COP, which was gazetted in October 2022, underlines the workplace health and safety responsibilities of leaders in companies in Singapore across all industries. This includes the mental well-being of workers in addition to their physical health.

The audience was also treated to an insightful presentation by Mr Lim Sui Soon, Executive Committee Member at the Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO). Mr Lim presented ‘A Data-Driven Risk-Based Approach to WSH Management’ which encouraged organizations to analyse key causal factors of incidents based on WSH data and develop mitigating methods in managing these high-risk factors. This approach provided a fresh perspective on WSH management and offered the audience new ways of tackling workplace safety and health issues.

Launch of AAIS Safety Microsite

A key element of AAIS Industry Safety Week was the opportunity for cross-learning and sharing of best practices. To facilitate this, AAIS launched a curated Safety Microsite (https://aais.org.sg/safety) aimed at promoting knowledge/resource sharing between members of the industry ecosystem. The Safety Microsite serves as a repository of safety resources, including messages from industry leaders, as well as safety-related posters, articles, guidance documents, activities, and other collaterals. In addition, the AAIS Safety Microsite is a platform for industry members to contribute their own safety-related materials such as checklists, safety week activities, videos and others.

The microsite will be available beyond Safety Week, making it a valuable long-term resource for organisations to enhance their safety practices. Safety officers and industry professionals alike will be able to access a comprehensive collection of materials safety-related resources to augment their own internal safety promotion efforts.

As the aerospace industry continues to evolve, it is crucial to maintain a strong focus on safety practices and technology. The success of the inaugural AAIS Industry Safety Week sends a strong signal of the our community’s commitment to promoting and enhancing aviation safety for the benefit of all stakeholders. 

aais.org.sg/safety
aais.org.sg/safety

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