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Every day, Ground Response Force (GRF) officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) carry up to 5kg of equipment – including firearms, tasers, batons and communication devices – traditionally strapped to utility belts that may cause discomfort and significant back strain.
To improve officers’ operational efficiency and endurance, the SPF worked with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) to develop a Load Bearing Vest (LBV), shifting some of the equipment load from the waist to the upper torso.
From Belt to Vest: A Game-changing Shift
The LBV is currently being trialled by GRF officers from Rochor Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) during deployments and shifts.
With the redistribution of equipment weight from their belts to their upper bodies, the LBV improves officers’ mobility and reduces lower back pain. But it also creates a new challenge: the additional layer traps body heat and can potentially cause heat stress in Singapore’s humid climate.
Heat stress can impair decision-making, reduce alertness and compromise an officer’s safety. Feedback from officers prompted an enhancement to the LBV – a ventilation system that circulates air beneath the vest, reducing heat accumulation and improving comfort.
The Cooling Solution
HTX developed a prototype ventilation system featuring four centrifugal fans powered by a lightweight battery pack. The system directs air beneath an air mesh plate, cooling the upper back area where heat accumulation is most problematic.
Recent controlled trials involving 12 officers yielded promising results. Under simulated Singapore conditions – 30°C temperature and 70% humidity – the ventilated vest reduced lower back skin temperature by a significant 1.86°C compared to the standard configuration. Most officers preferred the ventilated LBV, reporting lower perceived exertion levels and greater overall comfort during operations.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yap Jia Ying, Team Leader at Rochor NPC, said, “Early trials show promising results for officer comfort and operational effectiveness, and we’re continuing to refine the prototype based on our user experience.”
The initiative represents the SPF’s commitment to leveraging technology for operational efficiency while enhancing officers’ well-being. The SPF and HTX will further evaluate the prototype’s effectiveness before implementing it Force-wide.
