SINGAPORE — Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower issued additional haze guidance on 20 October 2026, asking employers to use one-hour PM2.5 measurements to adjust outdoor work as conditions change. The advice supplements next-day planning based on the Pollutant Standards Index forecast.
Different readings serve different decisions
The ministry distinguishes advance scheduling from decisions during a shift. Employers should identify tomorrow’s work that may need rescheduling using the PSI forecast, then review current fine-particle concentrations during the working day. The National Environment Agency’s explanation of the readings notes that hourly concentrations can fluctuate; an hourly PM2.5 concentration is not a one-hour PSI.
At elevated concentrations of 56–150 µg/m³, MOM advises reducing strenuous outdoor work for healthy employees and avoiding it for vulnerable workers. At 151–250 µg/m³, strenuous outdoor work should be avoided for healthy workers, while vulnerable workers should avoid outdoor work. At 251 µg/m³ or higher, outdoor work should be minimised for healthy workers and prohibited for vulnerable workers.
Work organisation remains part of protection
The advice includes mechanical aids, job rotation, indoor breaks and hydration. Employers should identify susceptible workers and maintain a one-week mask supply where outdoor work is required. This is updated ministry guidance, rather than an announcement of a new exposure-limit law.
HSE Blog analysis: A useful response plan gives supervisors clear authority to change tasks when conditions deteriorate. Our guides to reviewing workplace risk assessments and respiratory protective equipment explain the broader control process.
CNA’s earlier reporting provides background on outdoor workers’ exposure; it predates today’s additional guidance. See the 20 October MOM release for the complete instructions and exceptions.
Featured image: HSEBlog editorial illustration, not an incident photograph.
Source
Ministry of Manpower; National Environment Agency; CNAmom.gov.sg
