MOM imposes fines, non-compliance notices to employers
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has taken enforcement measures against 78 workplaces that were found non-compliant with the government's enhanced rules to reduce heat stress for outdoor workers.
These workplaces included construction sites, shipyards, process plants, and landscaping sites, The Straits Times reported.
According to the report, the breaches discovered include employees not being given adequate rest breaks under shade for heavy physical work and not being put through heat acclimatisation programmes.
MOM said it imposed fines and issued notices of non-compliance against these workplaces, which are now implementing the required heat safety measures.
The non-compliant employers were discovered in the inspections carried out by MOM in March and June, where it investigated 250 workplaces overall, The Straits Times reported.
Singapore's enhanced heat stress measures
MOM's Enhanced Measures to Reduce Heat Stress for Outdoor Workers was implemented in October 2023, mandating employers to monitor the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) every hour of outdoor work performed.
According to the ministry, if the WBGT hits 32 or higher, workers doing heavy physical activities should be given a minimum rest break of 10 minutes hourly.
Employers are also required to implement a buddy system for early recognition of heat injury symptoms among employees.
Across the world, 71% of employees are found to be exposed to excessive heat in 2020, 8.8% higher than two decades ago, according to the International Labour Organisation. The Asia-Pacific region saw 74.4% of its workforce exposed to heat stress in 2020, just behind Africa (92.9%) and the Arab States (83.6%).
