Protections for Outdoor Workers When Air Quality Reaches Unhealthy Levels
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the protections employers must provide to outdoor workers during unhealthy air quality and whether clearer thresholds should be introduced for reducing or suspending strenuous outdoor work, as raised by Mr Jackson Lam to the Acting Minister for Manpower. In response, Ms Jasmin Lau stated that under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, employers must follow Ministry of Manpower guidelines based on the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). Prolonged or strenuous outdoor work should be reduced at PSI 101 to 200, avoided or conducted with N95 masks at PSI 201 to 300, minimised above PSI 300, and require full face respirators when PSI exceeds 400. Risk assessments for high-risk tasks such as lifting must factor in visibility, with more stringent precautions applied to older, pregnant, or chronically ill workers. Employers should also mitigate exposure through job rotation, adjusted assignments, sufficient indoor rest breaks, adequate hydration, and deferring non-essential work.
Transcript
38 Mr Jackson Lam asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) what protections employers are required to provide to outdoor workers when air quality reaches unhealthy levels; and (b) whether clearer thresholds should be introduced for reducing or suspending strenuous outdoor work.
Ms Jasmin Lau: Under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, employers must assess haze-related risks and take appropriate measures to protect outdoor workers. The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM's) haze guidelines set out clear precautionary measures based on the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).
When the 24-hour PSI is within the unhealthy range of 101 to 200, employers should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor work. When it is within the very unhealthy range of 201 to 300, such work should be avoided. If it cannot be avoided, employers should provide employees with respirators, such as N95 masks. When the 24-hour PSI exceeds 300 and enters the hazardous range, employers should minimise all outdoor work. For employees who must continue working outdoors, N95 masks should be worn, and full face respirators should be worn when the PSI exceeds 400. Risk assessments for high-risk activities, such as lifting operations, should also take into account the effects of haze on visibility. More stringent precautions apply to susceptible workers, including older and pregnant workers, and those with chronic lung or heart disease.
Employers should also reduce workers' exposure by adjusting work assignments or rotating jobs, providing sufficient indoor rest breaks, adequate hydration and deferring non-essential work.