Schools ready for the worst, as PSI set to become ‘very unhealthy’

AMANDA LEE Today Online 14 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index on the first day of school after the term break is expected to be in the mid to high sections of the unhealthy range, and may tip into the very unhealthy range — above 200 — if unfavourable winds bring in denser haze from Sumatra.

The National Environment Agency first gave this update just after 6pm yesterday, when the 24-hour PSI was 126 to 146, the low to mid sections of the unhealthy range. By 1am, it had gone up to 143 to 168, with the three-hour PSI at 222.

At 6pm, the 24-hour PSI is in the 119-147 range, while the three-hour PSI is at 150.

Thundery showers forecast in the late morning and early afternoon today may bring only a short, temporary respite, noted the NEA.

The current haze is the worst in two years, and several public events scheduled for yesterday were cancelled. The Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer was called off the night before “for the safety and health of runners, volunteers, staff and beneficiaries”, said organisers. The POSB PAssion Run For Kids had its 10km Adults’ Competitive race and Kids’ Run categories pulled from the line-up at 5am, when the 3-hour PSI was 147.

However, as the focus shifts to pupils heading back for classes today, schools and parents seem prepared, with precautionary measures at the ready.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) and schools have a continuity plan in place to ensure the well-being of students and staff during a haze situation.

For example, teachers will be on the lookout for students who are unwell and ensure that they receive prompt medical attention.

“Schools are ready to respond and take appropriate haze management measures based on a set of guidelines corresponding to the health advisory,” the MOE said on its website. Some principals told TODAY their schools have masks and air purifiers, which would be used when the need arises.

Ang Mo Kio Secondary principal Abdul Mannan said his school has more than 10 air purifiers and a list of students with respiratory problems. The school will install them in those students’ classrooms if the PSI reaches the very unhealthy level.

He added that the school will use the 24-hour PSI range to decide on its contingency plans. “If it (remains) consistently high, then we’ll do something about it. That’s why we always use the 24-hour number as a more accurate gauge,” said Mr Abdul.

Punggol View Primary principal Kelvin Tay said that when the PSI is in the unhealthy range, the school reduces strenuous activities and moves Physical Education lessons indoors.

His school will issue a letter today to inform parents about their plans to deal with the haze situation.

Mr Tay added that parents should also be mindful of their children’s condition. “It’s important that the children are hydrated and to encourage them, if they feel uncomfortable, to wear a mask,” he said.

Parents TODAY spoke to have been equally prepared for the worsening haze situation and are hoping schools act accordingly.

Mr Adrian Koo, whose son is in Primary Four, was worried that the haze might cause health issues for students. “For the entire school holiday period, we have kept him indoors,” said the 38-year-old. “Schools should stop all PE lessons or sport activities until the haze situation improves.”

Human resource practitioner Shirley Tan, however, is not “too jumpy” about the haze situation, compared to the record high three-hour PSI of 401 in June 2013.

Still, the 42-year-old, who has two children aged nine and 11, has masks at home for her children to wear “if they are having respiratory problems” or if the PSI level reaches “close to 200”.

Firms, govt agencies take steps to protect staff
MARISSA YEO Today Online 15 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — As the haze continues to remain at an unhealthy level, various government agencies and companies have swung into action, by implementing safety measures or taking steps to protect their staff.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore issued a port notice last week on the possibility of restricting the movement of harbour craft and pleasure vessels in port waters should visibility be affected by the haze.

Due to the poor air quality, the Pawfect Health Day, which is organised by the National Kidney Foundation, has been postponed to March 6.

Amid concerns over the health of workers who are exposed to the haze, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said protective gear would be issued for those who are deployed outdoors.

Several companies in the construction, landscape, security and cleaning sectors told TODAY that they have taken several steps to protect their employees during the current haze, such as distributing masks to them.

The workers have also been advised to avoid being outdoors for long periods, encouraged to drink water, and to inform their supervisors on-site if they feel unwell.

At least two security companies have been distributing N95 and disposable masks to their workers, especially those assigned to work outdoors.

Mr Indhiran Thangaraj, Eagle I Security Services’ operations manager and workplace safety ad health coordinator, said: “We are also in the midst of discussion for a split shift — for a worker to be slotted in between another worker’s shift.”

“So instead of a one-hour break, workers get a four-hour break ... (Thus), they will only be working eight hours on the ground instead of the (usual) 12 hours.”

Reachfield Security and Safety Management has reduced the frequency of outdoor patrolling in schools and buildings for its staff.

Meanwhile, Esmond Landscape and Horticultural, a landscape company, said it plans to stop all activities if the haze worsens to the extent that visibility is affected.

Several construction companies said they have contingency plans in place.

Ms Ivy Tijin, human resource manager of Feng Ming Cooperation, said: “In the event that the haze worsens, we will try to minimise outdoor work or rearrange the schedule based on the urgency of the jobs.”

Mr Kelvin Ho, senior manager of BBR Holdings, noted that this is not the first time that the company is dealing with a haze situation.

“We have learnt from the past and should more (workers) fall sick, we will (shift the focus) to key jobs and stop all minor jobs.”


It’s all systems go for F1-trackside hotels
NOAH TAN Today Online 15 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE — The worsening haze situation in the Republic may have cast a pall over this week’s Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, but a check with hotels in the Marina Bay circuit vicinity showed that the poor air quality has not affected business over the race weekend.

The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) level hit the “very unhealthy” range of 249 – the highest reading to date this year – tonight (Sept 14), and the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said today that a decision on whether it would be safe to race would be made after consulting with drivers and teams.

Despite the gloom caused by the haze, hotels in the race vicinity told TODAY that they are close to full occupancy for the weekend.

“The hotel is booked close to capacity and we anticipate running full over the race weekend,” said Andreas Kohn, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. “The booking pace this year is on par with the same time last year and we are still receiving enquiries.”

Ng Sok Hia, Executive Assistant Manager of Sales & Marketing for Swissôtel The Stamford said that reservations were currently at over 80 per cent, with the hotel expected to hit full occupancy due to “an incremental pick-up of last minute booking.

“With the exciting build up to the night race this weekend, and the world-class entertainment acts taking place, it is unlikely that the haze situation will dampen the spirits of our guests,” said Ng. “Room reservations over the race weekend are unaffected. However, we will most definitely take into consideration any advice or guidelines set by the National Environment Agency, should the conditions change.”

While the Marina Mandarin Singapore expects to be fully booked by the time race weekend comes around, Patricia Yong, director of marketing communications for the hotel, admitted that the haze could make it hard to predict if tourists would still travel to the Republic for the Singapore Grand Prix.

“Due to the haze situation of late, it is hard to say whether it would actually be fully booked by this weekend,” said Yong. “However, we are not too worried, because based on the past years’ experience when the F1 race was also shrouded in haze, it did not have any adverse impact in our hotel bookings.

“Fans know that attending F1 race in itself carries with it the risk of bad weather, be it of rainy weather, or haze and are prepared for that.”

While it may be business as usual for hotels near the Marina Bay circuit, some merchants in Marina Square Shopping Mall are expecting a downturn in customers during the Singapore Grand Prix.

Many of the shops have already been hit hard by the ongoing renovations at the mall, and with road closures from the F1 race set to restrict traffic flow into the area, shop owners TODAY spoke to are bracing themselves for another quiet weekend.

A salesperson from African Jamaican store, Rastafari, who declined to be named, said: “There’s nothing we can do about this because it’s a yearly event. So we’ll keep a positive mindset, and probably just continue our SG50 promotion throughout this weekend in order to try and boost our business a little.”

However, one merchant is hoping to leverage on the race to help boost sales during the weekend. “From past experience, our business over the F1 weekend will drop by about 30%,” said Tina Zhang, a store supervisor at Action City. “But we found out last year that our portable fans sell particularly well during the F1 period, probably because spectators feel warm watching the race. So we’ll try to push the sales of our portable fans this year.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ADELENE WONG


NTUC urges employers to take care of workers amid haze
In a statement issued on Monday (Sep 14), NTUC says employers should step up vigilance amid the current haze situation and ensure the welfare of workers is not compromised.
Eileen Poh, Channel NewsAsia 15 Sep 15;

SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has urged all employers to take special care of their workers as haze conditions in Singapore reached Unhealthy levels.

In a media statement issued on Monday (Sep 14), NTUC said employers should step up vigilance amid the current haze situation and ensure the welfare of workers is not compromised.

"Employers are reminded to continually assess haze-related risks and adopt appropriate measures to safeguard the safety and health of their workers, especially those whose work requires them to be outdoors for a majority of the time," said director of NTUC's Workplace Safety and Health Secretariat Yeo Guat Kwang.

Mr Yeo, who is also the chairman of the Migrant Workers' Centre, added that it is the duty of employers to ensure all necessary precautions are taken to minimise risks posed by haze exposure during this period, and to exercise discretion when deploying workers outdoors - such as ensuring that appropriate protective gear is issued for outdoor work.

"On the part of workers, we urge everyone to exercise self-care, which includes making sure that the protective gears issued to them are used, and used correctly," Mr Yeo said, adding that both employers and workers should monitor the situation closely and look out for advisories issued by relevant authorities.

HAZE CONTINGENCY PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE

Companies are keeping a close eye on the situation and some have started to activate their haze contingency plans.

Over at construction firm Kori Holdings, supervisors will update workers on the PSI levels and ask if anyone has health concerns, before work begins on a site in the morning. N95 masks are also available for those who are not feeling well. Kori said it has so far not received any report of workers requiring medical attention due to the haze, but if the situation worsens, it expects business to be affected.

"If we are at the level which is very unhealthy for a prolonged period of time, it would have some impact on our productivity," said Kori Holdings CEO Hooi Yu Koh. "And naturally if productivity drops, it would have an impact on delays. And if delays come into the picture, it may have cost implications."

"Apart from that, we need to switch on spotlights more often due to visibility issues, so there will be an increase in cost in terms of consumption of electricity, and potentially more workers requiring to seek medical attention," added Mr Hooi.

Meanwhile, at Changi Airport, about 2,500 free masks and antiseptic wipes have been given to taxi drivers queuing to pick up passengers. This is an initiative by the National Taxi Association to help cabbies combat the haze.

It is not the first time the association is handing out these haze kits, and its executive advisor Mr Ang Hin Kee said drivers do go in and out of the car to help passengers with their luggage or to wash and refuel their cars.

"Over the last few days, we have monitored that the haze levels have hovered between the Unhealthy range and Moderate levels, so it is timely for us to restart our initiative to give out masks and antiseptic hand wipes to our taxi drivers," he said.

At WestGate Mall, employees and outsourced staff working outdoors have been asked to put on their masks when the air quality reaches Unhealthy levels.

"When the haze reaches a certain level, for example 100, we will distribute masks to them, and if it exceeds a certain higher level like 150, we will reduce the rotation shifts, and reduce some of the work required," said Mr Jason Loy, head of operations in Singapore at CapitaLand Mall Asia. "For example in a particular mall, if they need to do outdoor cleaning for four to five hours, we will reduce it to two hours."

CapitaLand Mall Asia, one of the biggest mall operators in the Republic, said its haze management plan covers all of its 19 shopping malls in Singapore. The firm will also close outdoor playgrounds and gardens at its malls, when the PSI crosses 150.

It is also giving out haze kits, comprising masks and bottled water, to patrons who are feeling unwell.

- CNA/dl/ek