MOM issues new guidelines for employers to adjust outdoor work based on hourly PM2.5 readings

The additional guidance complements existing guidelines based on the 24-hour PSI forecast, said the manpower ministry.

Workers doing landscape maintenance at Jurong Lake Gardens amid the haze on Oct 18, 2026. (File photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Tuesday (Oct 20) released new guidelines for employers to adjust outdoor work based on hourly PM2.5 readings as hazy conditions persisted in parts of Singapore.

The additional guidance complements existing guidelines based on the 24-hour Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) forecast and helps employers respond to air quality changes during the day, said the ministry in a press release.

While employers should use the 24-hour PSI forecast to plan outdoor work for the next day, the 1-hour PM2.5 readings should be used to adjust outdoor work during the day, said MOM.

PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or shorter, and is the dominant pollutant during haze that affects health.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The 1-hour PM2.5 readings give a more current indication of air quality, whereas the 24-hour PSI is an indicator of daily air quality and forms the basis of the National Environment Agency’s daily health advisories. Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said the additional guidance would help employers respond promptly to changing air quality and make informed decisions on outdoor work arrangements. “I strongly urge employers to stay alert to haze conditions, take appropriate precautions and pay particular attention to workers who are more vulnerable to its effects,” he said.

The 1-hour PM2.5 readings give a more current indication of air quality, whereas the 24-hour PSI is an indicator of daily air quality and forms the basis of the National Environment Agency’s daily health advisories.

Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash said the additional guidance would help employers respond promptly to changing air quality and make informed decisions on outdoor work arrangements.

“I strongly urge employers to stay alert to haze conditions, take appropriate precautions and pay particular attention to workers who are more vulnerable to its effects,” he said.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES

Employers should progressively reduce outdoor work as the 1-hour PM2.5 readings rise, said MOM.

“For vulnerable employees, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic heart or lung diseases, employers should avoid strenuous outdoor work when readings are elevated,” said the ministry.

Outdoor work for these groups should be avoided when readings are high and prohibited when hourly PM2.5 levels are in the "very high" band, it added.

For healthy employees, the ministry said employers should reduce strenuous outdoor work when readings are elevated and avoid such work when readings are high.

Employers should minimise all outdoor work for their employees when readings are very high, it added.

The ministry also advised employers to implement “appropriate risk-mitigating measures” when the 1-hour PM2.5 readings are elevated.

These include using mechanical aids, job rotation, providing indoor rest breaks and ensuring employees have adequate hydration.

“Where strenuous outdoor work cannot be avoided when readings are high ... N95 or equivalent masks should be provided,” said MOM.

“When readings are very high ... and outdoor work cannot be avoided, masks or appropriate respirators should be provided, and workers given indoor hourly rest breaks,” it added.

Employers should also assess the risks caused by reduced visibility when the hourly PM2.5 readings are very high, especially for lifting work involving tower and mobile cranes, said MOM.

The ministry also reminded employers to review their haze management plans, including determining which outdoor work activities should be reduced or rescheduled during such conditions.

Other measures include identifying workers who are more susceptible to the haze’s effects and setting criteria for restricting outdoor work as conditions worsen, said MOM.

It also told employers to maintain at least a one-week supply of masks if they require staff to work outdoors.

This year's haze season began on Sep 4, when the 24-hour PSI entered the unhealthy range for the first time since Oct 8, 2023 .

Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau said last Friday that her ministry had carried out more than 400 worksite inspections since September.

"Most employers have done the right thing with haze management plans, N95 masks, and regular updates to workers," she said.

However, about a quarter of the inspections found sites that fell short, she said.

“For the worksites that have fallen short, we have directed them to put that right, and we will check again. We will continue the inspections while the haze lasts,” said Ms Lau.

Across sectors, there were "extremely varied" reasons why these worksites were found to have fallen short, Ms Lau said.

She said she did not have the details on what the exact reasons were.

Mr Dinesh said on Tuesday that the health and safety of Singapore’s workers needed to remain a priority, especially during periods of haze.

“With timely adjustments to work arrangements and the right protective measures, we can better safeguard workers while supporting business continuity,” he said.

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

人力部表示，这项补充指导是对现有基于 24 小时 PSI 预测的指导方针的补充。

2026年10月18日，工人们在雾霾笼罩下于裕廊湖花园进行园林维护工作。（资料照片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：由于新加坡部分地区持续出现雾霾天气，人力部（MOM）周二（10 月 20 日）发布了新的指导方针，要求雇主根据每小时 PM2.5 读数调整户外工作。

该部门在一份新闻稿中表示，这项补充指导是对现有基于 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 预测的指导方针的补充，有助于雇主应对白天空气质量的变化。

人力部表示，虽然雇主应该使用 24 小时 PSI 预报来计划第二天的户外工作，但应该使用 1 小时 PM2.5 读数来调整白天的户外工作。

PM2.5 指的是直径为 2.5 微米或更短的细颗粒物，是雾霾期间影响健康的主要污染物。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 1小时PM2.5读数能更准确地反映空气质量，而24小时PSI指数则反映每日空气质量，是国家环境局每日健康建议的基础。人力部国务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什表示，这些补充指导将帮助雇主及时应对不断变化的空气质量，并就户外工作安排做出明智的决定。他说：“我强烈敦促雇主密切关注雾霾情况，采取适当的预防措施，并特别关注那些更容易受到雾霾影响的工人。”

1 小时 PM2.5 读数能更准确地反映当前的空气质量，而 24 小时 PSI 则是每日空气质量的指标，也是国家环境局每日健康建议的基础。

人力部国务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什表示，这些额外的指导意见将帮助雇主迅速应对不断变化的空气质量，并就户外工作安排做出明智的决定。

“我强烈敦促用人单位密切关注雾霾情况，采取适当的预防措施，并特别关注那些更容易受到雾霾影响的工人，”他说。

附加指南

人力部表示，随着 1 小时 PM2.5 读数的上升，雇主应逐步减少户外工作。

该部表示：“对于包括老年人、孕妇以及患有慢性心脏病或肺病的弱势员工，当气温升高时，雇主应避免安排他们进行剧烈的户外工作。”

报告还补充说，当PM2.5读数较高时，应避免这些群体进行户外工作；当PM2.5小时浓度处于“非常高”级别时，应禁止进行户外工作。

该部门表示，对于健康的员工，雇主应在气温升高时减少剧烈的户外工作，并在气温过高时避免此类工作。

报告还补充说，当气温读数非常高时，雇主应尽量减少员工的所有户外工作。

该部门还建议雇主在 1 小时 PM2.5 读数升高时实施“适当的风险缓解措施”。

这些措施包括使用机械辅助设备、轮岗、提供室内休息时间以及确保员工有充足的水分。

“如果在气温高的情况下无法避免进行高强度户外工作……则应提供 N95 或同等防护等级的口罩，”人力部表示。

“当读数非常高……且无法避免户外工作时，应提供口罩或合适的呼吸器，并给予工人每小时一次的室内休息时间，”声明补充道。

人力部表示，当每小时 PM2.5 读数非常高时，雇主还应评估能见度降低带来的风险，特别是对于涉及塔式起重机和移动式起重机的起重作业。

该部门还提醒用人单位审查其雾霾管理计划，包括确定在雾霾天气下应减少或重新安排哪些户外工作活动。

人力部表示，其他措施包括确定哪些工人更容易受到雾霾的影响，以及随着情况恶化，制定限制户外工作的标准。

它还要求雇主，如果要求员工在户外工作，则应至少储备一周的口罩。

今年的雾霾季从 9 月 4 日开始，当时 24 小时 PSI 值自 2023 年 10 月 8 日以来首次进入不健康范围。

人力部代理部长刘嘉敏上周五表示，自9月以来，该部门已进行了400多次工地检查。

她说：“大多数雇主在雾霾管理计划、N95口罩以及定期向员工更新信息方面都做得对。”

但她表示，大约四分之一的检查发现一些场所不合格。

刘女士说：“对于不达标的工地，我们已经责令他们改正，并且我们会再次检查。在雾霾持续期间，我们将继续进行检查。”

刘女士表示，各个行业中，导致这些工地不达标的原因“千差万别”。

她说她不清楚具体原因。

迪内什先生周二表示，新加坡工人的健康和安全需要继续放在首位，尤其是在雾霾期间。

他说：“通过及时调整工作安排和采取适当的防护措施，我们可以在保障员工安全的同时，支持业务的持续运营。”

订阅我们的邮件，即可获取精选热点新闻和引人深思的文章。

订阅通知，第一时间获取突发新闻和精彩报道。

加入我们的频道，即可在您常用的聊天应用上获取当日热门文章。