Protocols for Water-based Recreational Activities When Lightning Risk is Elevated

34 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether agencies managing beaches, parks and reservoirs have standard operating procedures for suspending or advising against water-based recreational activities when lightning risk is elevated; and (b) whether these protocols will be reviewed following recent incidents.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The National Parks Board (NParks), the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) require water sports operators to have standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place to ensure the safety of users participating in water-based recreational activities at our parks, beaches and reservoirs.

As part of these SOPs, operators are required to brief participants on the safety measures to adopt during lightning alerts, monitor weather conditions, and suspend all water-based activities upon the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) issuance of Category 1 lightning alerts. Operators are also required to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their staff and customers, until conditions are assessed to be safe for activities to resume.