Mandatory Hourly Breaks for Outdoor Workers During High Temperatures: MOM Implements New Safety Measures
In a bid to mitigate the risks of heat stress, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has introduced a set of enhanced measures designed to safeguard outdoor workers. Effective immediately, these measures include mandatory hourly breaks for laborers engaged in “heavy physical activities” when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 32 degrees Celsius.
MOM emphasized that outdoor workers, unlike the general population, have limited control over their work tasks, making them more susceptible to heat stress. Singapore’s rising temperatures pose a heightened risk to outdoor workers, necessitating the implementation of these protective measures.
Heat Stress Expert Panel
The new measures, formulated in consultation with the Ministry of Health’s Heat Stress Expert Panel, revolve around four key principles: Acclimatize, Hydrate, Rest, and Seek Shade.
New employees must be provided with adequate time to gradually adapt to outdoor work. Furthermore, all outdoor workers are required to hydrate at regular intervals, with a minimum frequency of once per hour, as per MOM’s directives. These new workers must also take regular rest breaks in shaded areas to dissipate accumulated body heat, ensuring their well-being.
Additionally, employers are mandated to monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) every hour during outdoor work, particularly in the hotter parts of the day. WBGT, an internationally recognized metric for assessing heat, factors in elements such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind to provide a more accurate evaluation of the actual environmental conditions and related health risks.
Singapore introduced a Heat Stress Advisory service in July to help individuals assess heat-related risks during outdoor activities, utilizing WBGT data to categorize risks as low, moderate, or high.
As part of the new measures, when the WBGT surpasses 32 degrees Celsius, a mandatory 10-minute rest break under shaded areas must be granted to workers engaged in heavy physical activities. The ministry’s definition of “heavy physical activities” encompasses intense arm and trunk work, manual labor tasks like carrying, shoveling, sawing, pushing and pulling heavy loads, and brisk walking. Depending on the WBGT, the intensity of physical exertion, and the availability of shade in work areas, the rest duration may be extended, especially for workers with pre-existing health conditions.
The MOM mandates that shipyards, process industries, and construction sites with a contract value exceeding S$5 million must have on-site WBGT meters. Other workplaces are encouraged to monitor WBGT readings using the National Environment Agency’s myENV app. The requirement for on-site WBGT meters will take effect from January 1, 2024.
To further enhance worker safety, MOM encourages workplaces to establish a “buddy system” for the early identification of heat-related symptoms and the prompt initiation of necessary interventions. MOM will conduct workplace inspections to ensure the effective implementation of these heat stress reduction measures, and employers failing to comply may face penalties under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, including stop work orders and composition fines.
