Air purifiers, fans, and portable air coolers: Government agencies roll out measures to curb haze impact

After the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) entered the Unhealthy range at 7am in the central region on Friday (Sept 4), agencies from the Government’s Haze Task Force (HTF) rolled out action plans and advisories to protect the health and well-being of the public.

This is the first time the PSI has entered the Unhealthy range due to haze since Oct 8, 2023.

At 12pm, the 24-hour PSI reading on Sept 4 was 105 in central Singapore.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said they will begin providing daily haze advisories starting from the evening of Sept 4, including the 24-hour PSI forecast for members of the public to plan their activities and events for the next 24 hours, available on www.haze.gov.sg, www.nea.gov.sg and the myENV app.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has also worked with healthcare institutions and long-term care providers — including public hospitals, polyclinics and nursing homes — to put in place haze preparedness measures such as using air purifiers, fans and deploying portable air coolers to reduce ambient temperature where appropriate.

Our public healthcare institutions are also monitoring patients closely for any possible health effects of the haze and will carry out appropriate medical intervention where necessary.

The public is advised to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. N95 masks are not required for short exposures such commuting from home to school or work, or in an indoor environment.

Those with chronic heart and lung conditions should keep their medications on hand and readily accessible.

Vulnerable persons, especially the elderly, pregnant women, children and those with chronic heart and lung conditions, should seek medical attention promptly should they develop symptoms or feel unwell.

These persons are also advised to avoid or minimise outdoor activity when the forecasted air quality is Very Unhealthy (PSI >200) and wear an N95 mask if they have to be outdoors for several hours.

Schools and pre-schools

All classrooms of primary and secondary schools, junior colleges/Millennia Institute, preschools, MOE Kindergartens and Special Education schools have been equipped with air purifiers to enhance the well-being of students during a haze situation.

The Early Childhood Development Agency and Ministry of Education have advised preschools and schools respectively to monitor the air quality levels and comply with the corresponding health advisories.

Parents are advised to take their children to seek medical attention if they are feeling unwell or exhibiting any respiratory problems due to the haze.

Schools will remain open and national examinations will proceed as scheduled.

However, schools have made arrangements for all candidates to take their papers in enclosed spaces with air purifiers if the air quality is in the Unhealthy range or worse during the examination.

National examinations will be rescheduled if a school closure occurs.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has also reminded employers to take the necessary measures to prepare their companies and workforce to minimise or mitigate the impact of haze effects based on MOM’s haze guidelines and tripartite advisories (www.mom.gov.sg/haze).

All workplaces are urged to take the following risk mitigating measures when the 24-hour PSI is in the Unhealthy range:

Reduce prolonged or strenuous work for healthy employees

Minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor work for vulnerable workers, especially the elderly and pregnant women

Avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor work for workers with chronic heart and lung conditions,

Use mechanical aids, implement job rotation, schedule indoor rest breaks and ensure adequate hydration

Provide suitable protective equipment, depending on pollutants present in the work environment

Sports & community activities

Sport Singapore has advised all participants and organisers of sports activities to monitor the air quality and follow the health advisories issued by relevant agencies, including its sports safety and haze management advisory (https://www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/sports-education/sports-safety/haze-management-at-sport-singapore/).

Members of the public are advised to take necessary precautions to ensure personal safety even as outdoor and indoor sports facilities remain open.

Event organisers should conduct their own risk management with due consideration of the health advisories when deciding whether to proceed with sports activities.

Community activities organised by the People’s Association and its grassroots organisations will also be guided by the 24-hour PSI forecast issued by NEA and the accompanying health advisory.

Members of the public who want to seek respite from the haze can also head to the air-conditioned rooms in all Community Centres/Clubs and selected Residents’ Committee Centres/Residents’ Network Centres which are on standby should the 24-hour PSI reading cross into the Very Unhealthy level (PSI >200).

The HTF will continue to monitor the situation closely to minimise the impact of haze on the public and agencies under HTF will provide further advisories should the haze situation deteriorate.

laili.abdeen@asiaone.com

周五（9月4日）早上7点，中部地区的24小时污染物标准指数（PSI）进入不健康范围后，政府雾霾应对小组（HTF）的各机构推出了行动计划和建议，以保护公众的健康和福祉。

这是自 2023 年 10 月 8 日以来，空气污染指数 (PSI) 首次因雾霾进入不健康范围。

9 月 4 日中午 12 点，新加坡中部 24 小时 PSI 读数为 105。

国家环境局 (NEA) 表示，他们将从 9 月 4 日晚间开始提供每日雾霾预警，包括 24 小时 PSI 预报，供公众规划未来 24 小时的活动和事件，相关信息可在 www.haze.gov.sg、www.nea.gov.sg 和 myENV 应用程序上获取。

卫生部也与医疗机构和长期护理机构（包括公立医院、综合诊所和疗养院）合作，采取雾霾防范措施，例如使用空气净化器、风扇和部署便携式空气冷却器，在适当的地方降低环境温度。

我们的公共医疗机构也在密切监测患者，观察雾霾可能对健康造成的任何影响，并在必要时进行适当的医疗干预。

建议公众保持水分充足，多喝水。短时间接触病毒，例如上下学或上下班途中，或在室内环境中，无需佩戴N95口罩。

患有慢性心脏和肺部疾病的人应该将药物放在手边，以便随时取用。

体弱者，特别是老年人、孕妇、儿童以及患有慢性心脏和肺部疾病的人，如果出现症状或感到不适，应立即就医。

建议这些人，当预报空气质量为“非常不健康”（PSI > 200）时，应避免或尽量减少户外活动；如果必须在户外待几个小时，则应佩戴 N95 口罩。

学校和幼儿园

为在雾霾天气下提升学生的健康福祉，小学、中学、初级学院/千禧学院、幼儿园、教育部幼儿园和特殊教育学校的所有教室都配备了空气净化器。

幼儿发展署和教育部分别建议幼儿园和学校监测空气质量水平，并遵守相应的健康建议。

建议家长，如果孩子因雾霾感到身体不适或出现任何呼吸道问题，应带孩子就医。

学校将继续开放，全国性考试也将按计划进行。

但是，如果考试期间空气质量处于不健康或更差的水平，学校已做出安排，让所有考生在配备空气净化器的封闭空间内参加考试。

如果学校停课，全国统考将重新安排时间。

人力部也提醒雇主采取必要措施，根据人力部的雾霾指南和三方建议（www.mom.gov.sg/haze），让公司和员工做好准备，以最大限度地减少或减轻雾霾的影响。

当24小时PSI值处于不健康范围时，所有工作场所都应采取以下风险缓解措施：

减少健康员工的长时间或繁重劳动。

尽量减少弱势劳动者，特别是老年人和孕妇，长时间或剧烈的户外工作。

患有慢性心脏和肺部疾病的工人应避免长时间或剧烈的户外工作。

使用机械辅助设备，实行轮岗制度，安排室内休息时间，并确保充足的水分摄入。

根据工作环境中存在的污染物，提供合适的防护设备。

体育和社区活动

新加坡体育理事会建议所有体育活动的参与者和组织者监测空气质量，并遵循相关机构发布的健康建议，包括其体育安全和雾霾管理建议（https://www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/sports-education/sports-safety/haze-management-at-sport-singapore/）。

即使室内外体育设施仍然开放，也建议公众采取必要的预防措施以确保人身安全。

赛事组织者在决定是否开展体育活动时，应充分考虑健康建议，并进行自身的风险管理。

人民协会及其基层组织组织的社区活动也将以国家环境局发布的 24 小时 PSI 预报和相应的健康建议为指导。

想要躲避雾霾的公众也可以前往所有社区中心/俱乐部和部分居民委员会中心/居民网络中心的空调房间，这些中心已做好准备，以应对 24 小时 PSI 读数超过“非常不健康”级别（PSI > 200）的情况。

雾霾应对工作组将继续密切监测情况，以尽量减少雾霾对公众的影响；如果雾霾情况恶化，雾霾应对工作组下属机构将发布进一步的咨询意见。

laili.abdeen@asiaone.com