SMRT needs to end 'blaming' culture

I am rather perturbed by what appears to be a culture of blaming employees within SMRT whenever a breakdown occurs.

Standard operating procedures comprising simple routines and mundane work, when overlooked, could lead to catastrophic failures and engineering disasters.

If top management trivialises maintenance work, breakdowns will occur.

I believe the problems stem from a failure of management to ensure that checks on work are done, allowing falsified records to go unnoticed.

If SMRT is looking for experienced workers and systems to ensure trouble-free operations, it should take a leaf from the book of our reliable waterworks and power stations.

Phua Cheng Tar

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 03, 2017, with the headline SMRT needs to end 'blaming' culture. Subscribe