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Employers have been reminded to assess environmental risks and implement measures such as shaded rest areas and protective attire for workers exposed to heat and UV radiation.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore has reiterated measures it is taking to mitigate exposure risks linked to heat stress and solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in outdoor workers.
In response to a letter from Solomon Tan Kia Tang, published in The Straits Times on 1 April, the Ministry said that under the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act, employers are required to conduct risk assessments and implement reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety and health of their workers. This includes assessing environmental risks faced by outdoor workers, such as heat and solar UV exposure, and putting in place appropriate control measures.
As part of MOM’s heat stress framework for outdoor work, employers are required to provide shaded rest areas for workers exposed to heat stress and UV radiation. This allows workers to take necessary breaks and reduce prolonged exposure during the workday.
The WSH guidelines on managing heat stress in the workplace also recommend additional protective measures. These include rescheduling physically demanding work to cooler or less sunny parts of the day, and ensuring workers are equipped with suitable attire, such as long-sleeved clothing made from breathable fabric.
In practice, MOM noted that many outdoor workers already adopt such attire to reduce direct sun exposure, particularly in roles where working under the sun is unavoidable.
To ensure compliance, MOM has been conducting checks on outdoor work sites. Since introducing the heat stress framework, enforcement action has been taken against 213 non-compliant employers.
The Ministry added that it will continue to monitor scientific developments and update requirements in consultation with industry stakeholders and tripartite partners. This is to ensure that workers are adequately protected from both immediate and long-term environmental risks at workplaces.
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