N95 masks, adjusted work arrangements: Companies step up haze precautions

Some employers told CNA that they are prepared to scale back or suspend outdoor activities if air quality deteriorates further.

Haze situation over the Central Business District, on Sep 14, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Raydza Rahman)

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SINGAPORE: Some companies are stepping up haze precautions for employees and outdoor workers as air quality in Singapore worsened on Tuesday (Sep 15), including providing N95 masks, scaling back outdoor work and allowing flexible work arrangements.

Singtel said it would suspend outdoor work except for emergencies if the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) exceeds 300, while construction firm Lum Chang Creations could reduce or reschedule prolonged outdoor work.

Meanwhile, OCBC said it is making N95 masks available to employees, while food delivery platform Foodpanda is advising riders to take breaks and wear suitable protective gear.

Air quality across all five regions of Singapore entered the unhealthy range on Tuesday morning, as smoke haze from fires in Indonesia continued to affect the country. This is the first time since September 2019 that air quality in all regions entered the unhealthy range.

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 In an advisory on Monday, the National Environment Agency said that haze is likely to continue affecting Singapore, with dry conditions forecast and prevailing winds likely to blow from the southeast to east-southeast.

In an advisory on Monday, the National Environment Agency said that haze is likely to continue affecting Singapore, with dry conditions forecast and prevailing winds likely to blow from the southeast to east-southeast.

COMPANIES ADJUST WORK ARRANGEMENTS

For employees whose jobs take them outdoors, companies CNA spoke to said they were putting in place measures ranging from schedule changes to additional rest breaks.

Singtel said it adjusts outdoor work according to the hourly PSI readings provided by NEA, including minimising or rescheduling non-critical outdoor work as conditions worsen.

Its employees have been advised to cut down on prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity where possible. Teams that need to be outdoors may have their schedules adjusted, activities moved indoors or non-essential work postponed when conditions warrant , a spokesperson said.

The telco added that if the PSI exceeds 300, which is in the hazardous range, it will suspend outdoor work and home visits except for emergencies. Affected customers will be informed and appointments rescheduled.

For now, its operations are continuing as usual, Singtel said.

A view from Tampines of the haze situation in Singapore in the late afternoon on Sep 4, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

OCBC, meanwhile, has made N95 masks available to employees.

Staff have been advised to minimise prolonged outdoor exposure when air quality deteriorates, stay hydrated and seek medical attention if they experience haze-related symptoms.

The bank has also asked managers to pay particular attention to employees who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze, including those who are elderly, pregnant or have underlying medical conditions.

Flexible work arrangements can be discussed where appropriate, said OCBC’s head of group operational risk management Gary Chong.

Food delivery platform Foodpanda said deliveries are continuing as usual, but added that riders can decide when they want to work and adjust their schedules based on prevailing conditions.

The company said it monitors weather and air quality conditions, including PSI readings, and sends advisories to riders through its Pandarider app and other communication channels.

Riders can also take short breaks between orders through Foodpanda's “Excused Breaks” feature, which allows them to take a five-minute break every hour while continuing to enjoy applicable incentives.

Foodpanda said delivery times could be affected as riders take precautions, and asked customers for patience and understanding.

According to guidelines from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), employers should carry out risk assessments and reduce or avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor work, depending on air quality.

Measures can include rotating jobs, providing indoor rest breaks, ensuring workers stay hydrated and deferring non-essential work.

Employers are also strongly encouraged to offer flexible work arrangements during haze episodes, particularly for vulnerable employees such as older workers, pregnant women and those with chronic heart or lung conditions.

OUTDOOR WORK COULD BE SCALED BACK

At its construction sites, Lum Chang Creations said workers could be rotated or moved to sheltered or indoor tasks instead.

The firm, which began work in July on a S$32.9 million (US$25.86 million) contract for the Teck Ghee MRT station, said there has been no blanket suspension of construction work at its sites so far.

However, prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities may be reduced, rescheduled or replaced with other work, while non-essential activities could be deferred if air quality worsens.

Workers may also be given more rest breaks in sheltered areas, while N95 masks or other respiratory protection are available where required.

If the PSI exceeds 300, outdoor work will be minimised and non-essential activities may be deferred, said the company’s managing director Lim Thiam Hooi.

"Activities involving additional risks, including lifting operations where visibility may be affected, will also be reassessed and may be suspended if safe operating conditions cannot be maintained,” added Mr Lim.

As of Tuesday, the firm said it had not received any reports of haze-related health issues among its employees or workers.

It added that there had also been no material disruptions to its ongoing projects attributable to the haze as of Monday.

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一些雇主告诉亚洲新闻台，如果空气质量进一步恶化，他们准备缩减或暂停户外活动。

2026年9月14日，中央商务区上空笼罩着雾霾。（图片：CNA/Raydza Rahman）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：周二（9月15日），新加坡空气质量恶化，一些公司正在加强对员工和户外工作者的雾霾预防措施，包括提供N95口罩、减少户外工作和允许灵活的工作安排。

新加坡电信表示，如果污染物标准指数 (PSI) 超过 300，除紧急情况外，将暂停户外工作；而建筑公司 Lum Chang Creations 可能会减少或重新安排长时间的户外工作。

与此同时，华侨银行表示将向员工提供 N95 口罩，而外卖平台 Foodpanda 则建议骑手休息并佩戴合适的防护装备。

周二上午，新加坡所有五个区域的空气质量均进入不健康水平，印尼山火产生的烟雾持续影响着该国。这是自2019年9月以来，新加坡所有区域的空气质量首次全部达到不健康水平。

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，大脑筋急转弯 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 国家环境局周一发布公告称，雾霾可能继续影响新加坡，预计天气干燥，盛行风向可能从东南吹向东南偏东。

新加坡国家环境局周一发布公告称，雾霾可能继续影响新加坡，预计天气干燥，盛行风向可能从东南吹向东南偏东。

公司调整工作安排

CNA采访的公司表示，对于工作需要在户外工作的员工，他们正在采取一系列措施，包括调整工作时间、增加休息时间等。

新加坡电信表示，公司会根据新加坡国家环境局提供的每小时 PSI 读数调整户外作业，包括在情况恶化时减少或重新安排非关键的户外作业。

公司发言人表示，已建议员工尽可能减少长时间或剧烈的户外活动。对于必须进行户外活动的团队，公司可能会根据实际情况调整工作安排，将活动转移到室内，或推迟非必要工作。

该电信公司补充说，如果PSI值超过300（达到危险级别），除紧急情况外，将暂停户外工作和上门服务。受影响的客户将收到通知，预约将被重新安排。

新加坡电信表示，目前其运营一切照常进行。

2026年9月4日下午，从淡滨尼拍摄的新加坡雾霾景象。（图片：CNA/林丽婷）

与此同时，华侨银行已向员工提供N95口罩。

已建议员工在空气质量恶化时尽量减少长时间在户外停留，保持水分充足，如果出现与雾霾相关的症状，应及时就医。

该银行还要求管理人员特别关注那些可能更容易受到雾霾影响的员工，包括老年人、孕妇或患有基础疾病的员工。

华侨银行集团运营风险管理主管 Gary Chong 表示，在适当情况下可以讨论灵活的工作安排。

外卖平台 Foodpanda 表示，配送服务照常进行，但同时补充说，骑手可以自行决定何时工作，并根据实际情况调整工作时间。

该公司表示，它会监测天气和空气质量状况，包括 PSI 读数，并通过其 Pandarider 应用程序和其他通信渠道向骑手发送建议。

骑手还可以通过 Foodpanda 的“合理休息时间”功能在送餐间隙进行短暂休息，该功能允许他们每小时休息五分钟，同时继续享受相应的奖励。

Foodpanda表示，由于骑手采取预防措施，配送时间可能会受到影响，并请求顾客耐心等待和理解。

根据人力部 (MOM) 的指导方针，雇主应进行风险评估，并根据空气质量减少或避免长时间或剧烈的户外工作。

相关措施包括轮岗、提供室内休息时间、确保工人保持水分充足以及推迟非必要工作。

也强烈鼓励雇主在雾霾期间提供灵活的工作安排，特别是对于老年工人、孕妇和患有慢性心脏或肺部疾病等弱势员工。

户外工作量可能会缩减

Lum Chang Creations公司表示，在其建筑工地，工人可以轮换或调往有遮蔽的室内或室外工作岗位。

该公司于 7 月开始承建德义地铁站，合同金额为 3290 万新元（2586 万美元）。该公司表示，到目前为止，其工地尚未全面暂停施工。

但是，如果空气质量恶化，长时间或剧烈的户外活动可能会减少、重新安排或用其他工作代替，而非必要的活动可能会推迟。

工人还可以在有遮蔽的区域获得更多休息时间，并在需要时提供 N95 口罩或其他呼吸防护用品。

该公司总经理林添辉表示，如果 PSI 超过 300，户外工作将尽量减少，非必要活动可能会推迟。

林先生补充说：“涉及额外风险的活动，包括可能影响能见度的起重作业，也将重新评估，如果无法维持安全操作条件，则可能会暂停。”

截至周二，该公司表示尚未收到任何关于其员工或工人出现与雾霾相关的健康问题的报告。

该公司还补充说，截至周一，雾霾并未对其正在进行的项目造成实质性干扰。

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