Brecon Beacons deaths: MoD ordered to change SAS test
The Health and Safety Executive said Ministry of Defence failed to properly identify risks associated with test in which three men died
The Ministry of Defence has been ordered to change the way the gruelling SAS selection test is run following the deaths of three trainees who collapsed during a mountainside exercise on one of the hottest days of the year.
Health and Safety Executive officials have told the ministry to act after finding problems with the planning before the fatal SAS test on the Brecon Beacons, south Wales, in July.
The HSE’s investigation concluded that the MoD had failed to properly identify the risks associated with the test, including the possible impact of heat illness. It also said there had been a failure to take action once it became clear those taking part in the test were falling sick.
A “crown improvement notice” issued by the HSE said the MoD needed to consider issues such as access to safe water, the clothing candidates wear and evacuation procedures.
The MoD said it was already implementing the recommendations. A spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of those who died on this exercise. We have co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive inspectors and are implementing all the recommendations in the crown improvement notice. As the incident is still subject to a police and MoD investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Reservists Edward John Maher, 31, Craig John Roberts, 24, and James Dunsby, 31, all died after taking part in the selection exercise on a day when the temperature hit 30C. A number of others taking part in the exercise near Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons also collapsed and needed medical attention and witnesses reported seeing soldiers looking exhausted and begging for water.
The police are continuing to investigate the circumstances and a pre-inquest review is due to take place next week when the progress of the criminal inquiry will be spelled out. Meanwhile the MoD was given until the end of the month to comply with the crown improvement notice. A HSE spokesman said: “The notice requires the ministry to take action to deal with risks arising from its military selection exercises. HSE continues to investigate the deaths, supporting Dyfed Powys police which is leading the investigation.”
Pen y Fan is famed for an exercise called the “Fan Dance” which involves a would-be SAS soldier marching up and down the mountain with a pack and rifle – then doing the same in reverse – in a set time.
The improvement notice concluded: “You [the MoD] failed to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to … those soldiers participating in the aptitude phase hill/mountain walking selection test in the Brecon Beacons on 13 July 2013 including a failure to properly identify the risks associated with this activity and implement effective measures to control them including those relating to heat illness.”
It adds: “Further, you failed to review the risk assessment when it became clear that persons …read more
