Ensuring Safety of Residents, Including Students and Workers who Work Outdoors Given Record UV Index Levels
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the safety measures for residents, students, and outdoor workers during extreme ultraviolet index (UVI) levels, as raised by Ms Yeo Wan Ling. Minister Grace Fu Hai Yien clarified that while UVI levels remain high due to Singapore's location, there has been no significant upward trend over the past decade. The Government utilizes urban design with shade and greenery and provides real-time advisories via the myENV app to encourage precautions during peak UV hours. Workplace safety guidelines recommend that employers provide shaded rest breaks and reschedule outdoor tasks, while schools are advised to avoid outdoor activities between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm. Authorities will continue monitoring UVI data and will implement additional sector-specific measures as necessary to protect the population from the effects of UV radiation.
Transcript
29 Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in view of the ultraviolet index in Singapore hitting extreme levels recently, what factors is the Ministry taking into consideration when ensuring the safety of the population, including students and workers whose workplaces are situated outdoors.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Singapore experiences high ultraviolet index (UVI) levels throughout the year due to our location near the equator. Based on our data, there is no significant upward trend in UVI levels over the past decade, both in terms of the number of days with extreme UVI levels and the duration of extreme UV levels each day. We do see seasonal variability, with the months of February, March and April generally having the highest number of days with high UVI levels.
Over the years, the Government has already taken steps to protect the general public from the effects of UV radiation. Our urban environment is designed with adequate shade and greenery to reduce UV exposure outdoors. The public is advised to check the UV levels on the myENV app and weather information website, and take appropriate precautions to protect their skin and eyes, such as by wearing protective clothing, applying sunscreen and seeking shade especially during the peak UV hours of 11.00 am to 3.00 pm.
The Government has also put in place sector-specific guidelines for various segments of the population. For example, the Ministry of Manpower regularly reviews Workplace Safety and Health measures to address the risks faced by outdoor workers. This includes encouraging employers to allow outdoor workers to take rest breaks under shade and reschedule outdoor work to less sunny parts of the day, where possible. For schools, the measures include avoiding physical outdoor activities during the peak UV hours to minimise students' exposure to UV radiation and advising students to take appropriate UV protection measures, such as using sunscreen. We will continue to monitor UVI levels and take additional measures where necessary.