PUBLISHED ONOctober 20, 2026 12:55 PMBYSean LerEmployers should adjust outdoor work based on the hourly PM2.5 readings, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in an additional guidance to employers on Tuesday (Oct 20).
It is intended to complement existing guidelines based on the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast, the ministry stated.
"(It) helps employers respond within the day as air quality changes."
Under the additional guidance, all outdoor activities can go on as planned when PM2.5 is in the normal band (0 to 55μg/m3), but there are now activity references across for healthy and vulnerable workers when concentration readings reach the elevated (56 to 150), high (151 to 250) and very high (251 and above) bands.
| Hourly PM2.5 level | Healthy employees | Vulnerable employees | General measures by employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Normal activities | Normal activities | Monitor the haze situation |
| Elevated | Reduce strenuous outdoor work | Avoid strenuous outdoor work | Mitigate risks through mechanical aids, job rotation, instituting indoor rest breaks, ensuring adequate hydration, etc. |
| High | Avoid strenuous outdoor work | Avoid outdoor work | If strenuous outdoor work is not avoidable, masks should be provided. |
| Very high | Minimise outdoor work | Prohibit outdoor work | Prohibit outdoor work for vulnerable Defer non-essential jobs or reducing If outdoor work is not avoidable, Affected workers should be given Risk assessment should account for |
| Vulnerable employees include the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic heart or lung diseases. | |||
Referring to outdoor work, the ministry stated that reducing means doing less; minimising means doing as little as possible; avoiding means "do not do"; and, prohibit means must not allow.
It also defined prolonged as continuous exposure for several hours, and strenuous as activities that involve a lot of energy and effort.
Meanwhile, the existing guidance for PSI can still be used to plan for next day's activities, MOM said.
Employers are reminded to review their haze management plans.
These include identifying workers who are more susceptible to the effects of haze, determining which outdoor activities should be reduced or rescheduled; setting criteria for restricting outdoor work as conditions worsen, and maintaining at least a one-week supply of masks as part of their haze-related business continuity plans.
Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash reminded employers that the health and safety of workers must always remain a priority, especially during periods of haze, adding that the additional guidance will 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. With timely adjustments to work arrangements and the right protective measures, we can better safeguard workers while supporting business continuity," he said.
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