Manpower ministry orders N95 masks and rest breaks as haze worsens

Employers should progressively reduce outdoor work as PM2.5 readings rise.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has issued new guidance for employers to adjust outdoor work as haze conditions worsen, based on hourly readings of fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Employers should use the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast to plan outdoor activities for the following day, and progressively reduce outdoor work as PM2.5 readings rise, MOM said.

For vulnerable workers, including the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, employers should avoid strenuous outdoor work when readings are elevated, stop outdoor work when readings are high, and prohibit it when readings are very high.

For healthy workers, employers should reduce strenuous outdoor work when readings are elevated, avoid it when readings are high, and minimise all outdoor work when readings are very high.

Employers should also implement safeguards such as mechanical aids, job rotation, indoor rest breaks, and adequate hydration.

If strenuous outdoor work cannot be avoided when readings are high, employers should provide N95 or equivalent masks.

When readings are very high, employers should minimise all outdoor work. Where outdoor work cannot be avoided, masks or appropriate respirators should be provided, along with hourly indoor rest breaks.

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

He urged employers to monitor haze conditions, take appropriate precautions, and pay particular attention to workers more vulnerable to its effects.