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JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JOINTLY ISSUED BY NEA, MOH, MOE AND MOM

NEA TO COMMENCE DAILY HAZE FORECASTS FROM 16 JUNE 2014 IN VIEW OF DRIER WEATHER CONDITIONS IN SUMATRA AND THE ONSET OF THE SOUTHWEST MONSOON

Singapore, 13 June 2014 – The onset of the Southwest Monsoon season1, a traditional dry season for the southern ASEAN region, raises the possibility of transboundary haze. The National Environment Agency will commence daily haze forecasts and health advisory from 16 June 2014.

2 Over the past few days, drier weather conditions have affected parts of the region, and isolated hotspot activities were visible in parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. In the coming weeks, the prevailing Southwest Monsoon is expected to strengthen and persist with winds forecast to blow mostly from the southeast or southwest. The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) had also earlier forecast weak to moderate El Nino conditions to develop in the next few months, which could exacerbate the drier and warmer conditions over Singapore and the region during the Southwest Monsoon season. Prolonged drier and warmer conditions during an El Nino will increase the risk of the occurrence of transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires in the region affecting Singapore.

3 The Inter-Agency Haze Task Force which coordinates 23 Government agencies has already convened early this year. The respective agencies have reviewed their action plans to mitigate the effects of haze on the public.
Air quality monitoring

4 Since 1 April 2014, the National Environment Agency (NEA) implemented an integrated air quality reporting index in which PM2.5 was incorporated into the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) as its sixth parameter2. Similarly, the 3-hour PSI now also takes into account PM2.5 concentrations. Additionally, 1-hour PM2.5 concentrations readings are being published every hour.
5 NEA will continue to monitor the weather, hotspot and haze situation in the region and issue the daily haze forecasts and health advisories. This will commence from 16 June

1 Southwest Monsoon season typically last from June to September/ early October.
2 The PSI will reflect six pollutants which are sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3). More information on the new PSI can be found here: http://app2.nea.gov.sg/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/air-pollution-control/psi.

2014 based on the new PSI system3, as well as the Ministry of Health (MOH)’s health advisories and Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s workplace guidelines4. The public will be able to read the latest advisories at the haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or follow NEA on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg).
Healthcare preparedness and mask distribution

6 MOH is also working closely with healthcare institutions, polyclinics as well as GP and Intermediate Long-Term Care (ILTC) partners, amongst others, to ensure that the healthcare sector is adequately prepared for haze episodes. There are contingency plans for the healthcare sector which aim to maintain patient safety, meet increased healthcare demand and minimise disruption to medical services. Measures will also be taken to ensure that patients in MOH’s acute and community hospitals, as well as patients in nursing homes, are not adversely affected by the haze situation. If the situation warrants it, the Haze Subsidy Scheme will also be re-activated.

7 N95 masks are not needed for short exposure to haze, such as commuting from home to school or work, travel from bus-stop to shopping mall. N95 masks are also not needed in an indoor environment. The public may wish to refer to MOH’s health advisory for guidance on when and how N95 masks are to be used. The Government has put together a stockpile of 16 million N95 masks to help ease supply shortages if required. MOH has also pre-positioned masks with distributors and the People’s Association.
Preparedness of educational institutions

8 All primary and secondary schools have in place a set of haze management plans and are ready to implement the appropriate haze management measures as required. If necessary, outdoor school activities may be replaced with alternative indoor arrangements, postponed or cancelled. The Ministry of Education (MOE) will also consider closing all primary and secondary schools to students when the haze forecast and health advisory for the next day indicates that the air quality will be at hazardous level. Schools will contact parents to inform them of the closure via phone or SMS.

9 Kindergartens (including MOE Kindergartens and Kindergarten Care Centres) and childcare centres will take guidance from the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) on the preparation for haze. ECDA will align the closure of kindergartens and child care centres to the closure of schools, if any.

10 During haze season, MOE and schools5 will continue to closely monitor the haze situation and take appropriate management measures based on the health advisory issued.

Workplace safety
11 In accordance with the revised PSI bandings and MOH’s revised health advisory, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has updated its guidelines to advise employers and provide them with general measures for workplace safety and health protection in the event of haze.
3 The PSI value and its corresponding air quality descriptor can be found in Annex A.
4 Please refer to Annex B for MOH’s health advisories and Annex C for MOM’s workplace guidelines.
5 Includes junior colleges, centralised institute and post-Secondary education institutions.

12 The Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) has also issued a bulletin to its 33,000 subscribers on the revised guidelines in March 2014. In addition, WSHC has been working closely with the various industry associations whose members’ employees perform prolonged/ strenuous outdoor work activities, to increase the awareness of both the firms and workers on this issue. The Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL) has also issued a circular to its members regarding haze management.

13 There is no pre-determined level at which all work would have to be stopped. Essential services would still continue, although appropriate adjustments would be necessary. It is the employers’ duty to protect their employees’ safety and health at work. All employers should carry out proper risk assessments of their various work activities and implement appropriate measures, to ensure that the risks identified are minimised or mitigated. In situations where the haze poses risks to the safety and health of workers and measures have not been taken to mitigate those risks, MOM may order the affected work to stop.

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For media queries, please contact:
Esther Tan (Miss)
Senior Executive, Corporate Communications
National Environment Agency
Contact: 6731 9122/ 9877 3154
Email: esther_tan@nea.gov.sg

Shireen Yeo (Miss)
Manager, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Health
Contact: 6325 1220/ 8121 7071
Email: shireen_yeo@moh.gov.sg

Khoo Ri Zhen (Miss)
Senior Executive, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Education
Contact: 6879 7671/ 9220 3053
Email: khoo_ri_zhen@moe.gov.sg

Kong Yi Ting (Miss)
Manager, Corporate Communications
Ministry of Manpower
Contact: 6499 6129
Email: kong_yi_ting@mom.gov.sg

For queries on these guidelines, please contact the Ministry of Manpower. MOM Contact Centre, Tel: (65) 6438 5122 Online Enquiry via this link (https://secure.mom.gov.sg/feedback/) Website: www.mom.gov.sg