When the sky turns grey and the air smells of smoke, most of us still have to go to work. Understanding working during haze MOM guidelines helps both employees and employers know what is expected: how workplaces should assess the risk, what changes for people who work outdoors, when masks come in, and how to raise a work-from-home request reasonably.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) publishes guidance for employers on protecting workers from haze, and the National Environment Agency (NEA) publishes the official air quality readings. Both can update their advice, so check their websites for the current version.
How Haze Is Measured and Why It Matters at Work
Singapore reports air quality through the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), with bands such as Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy and Hazardous, plus hourly PM2.5 readings that show short-term changes. NEA’s website and the myENV app show current readings and health advisories by region.
At work, these readings are the trigger for action. MOM’s guidance links workplace measures to the air quality level and to the type of work being done, especially prolonged or strenuous outdoor work. Indoor office work in an air-conditioned building is generally lower risk than physical work outdoors, though air quality indoors can also fall if fresh-air intake is high.
What Employers Are Expected to Do
Under Singapore’s workplace safety and health framework, employers have a general duty to take reasonably practicable steps to protect their employees’ safety and health. For haze, MOM’s guidance broadly asks employers to:
- Assess the risk: include haze in the workplace risk assessment and identify which roles and which employees are most exposed.
- Monitor air quality: follow NEA readings and adjust work as levels change.
- Reduce outdoor exposure: cut down or reschedule prolonged or strenuous outdoor work when air quality is poor, and add more rest breaks.
- Provide suitable protection: make appropriate masks available for those who must work outdoors when the guidance calls for it, and show staff how to wear them.
- Look after vulnerable staff: pay particular attention to employees who are pregnant, older, or have heart or lung conditions.
- Have a plan: prepare business continuity arrangements, including flexible or remote work where the job allows it.
The exact PSI levels at which each measure applies are set out in MOM’s current haze guidance. Employers should read it directly rather than rely on second-hand summaries.
Outdoor Work, Masks and Rest Breaks
People who work outdoors, such as construction workers, delivery riders, cleaners, landscapers and security officers, face the most exposure. Common measures include:
- Moving heavy outdoor tasks indoors or to times when readings are better.
- Rotating staff so no one spends long continuous periods outside.
- Providing respirators of the type recommended in the guidance (commonly N95 masks) when outdoor work must continue in poor air.
- Ensuring masks fit properly; a loose mask offers much less protection.
- Making sure rest areas have cleaner air where possible.
Masks such as N95 respirators can make breathing harder during physical work. Anyone feeling dizzy, breathless or unwell while wearing one should stop, rest and tell their supervisor. People with heart or lung conditions, and pregnant employees, should ask their doctor whether wearing a respirator for long periods is suitable for them.
| Situation | What employers commonly do | What staff can do |
|---|---|---|
| Office staff, air quality moderate | Normal work; monitor readings | Keep windows closed; take normal breaks |
| Outdoor staff, air quality unhealthy | Reduce strenuous outdoor work; add breaks | Report symptoms early; use masks provided |
| Outdoor staff, air quality very unhealthy or worse | Minimise or stop prolonged outdoor work; provide respirators | Follow rotation; do not push through feeling unwell |
| Vulnerable employee, any poor reading | Adjust duties or allow remote work where feasible | Share relevant medical advice with HR |
Asking to Work From Home During the Haze
There is no automatic legal right to work from home during haze, but many employers allow it where the role permits. Singapore also has tripartite guidelines on flexible work arrangement requests, which set out how employers should consider such requests properly. Check the current guidelines on the MOM and Tripartite Alliance websites.
To make a reasonable request:
- Be specific: say which days or for how long, and how you will cover your duties.
- Give your reason: for example, asthma, pregnancy, caring for a young child or elderly parent, or a long outdoor commute.
- Attach advice if relevant: a doctor’s note helps if you have a health condition.
- Put it in writing: email your manager or HR so there is a record.
- Be open to alternatives: a later start, fewer site visits or a different task may also work.
Employers should respond fairly and explain their decision. If a request is declined, ask what would make it workable.
If You Feel Unwell at Work
Haze can cause eye irritation, sore throat, coughing and breathlessness. Most people recover once exposure drops, but some groups are more at risk.
- Tell your supervisor as soon as you feel unwell, rather than waiting until the end of a shift.
- Move to a cleaner indoor area and drink water.
- See a doctor if symptoms are significant or do not ease, and seek urgent care for chest pain or severe breathlessness.
- If you receive medical leave, it is handled under your normal employment terms and the Employment Act where it applies.
Our guide to protecting your health during the haze in Singapore covers personal precautions in more depth.
Raising Concerns Safely
If you believe your workplace is not taking reasonable steps during haze, start by raising it internally with your supervisor, HR, or a workplace safety officer or committee if your company has one. Keep notes of what you raised and when. If that does not resolve it, you can contact MOM through its official channels to report workplace safety concerns. For a broader look at your rights, see employment rights and MOM protections in Singapore.
A Quick Haze Checklist for Teams
- Bookmark NEA’s air quality page and check it each morning.
- Know your company’s haze plan and who decides on changes.
- Keep a spare N95 mask at work if your job takes you outdoors.
- Agree in advance how remote work requests will be handled.
- Check on colleagues who are pregnant, older or have health conditions.
Haze episodes come and go, but a clear understanding of working during haze MOM guidelines helps everyone stay productive and safe. For staff with young families at home, our tips on protecting babies and young children during the haze are worth a read too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my employer force me to work outdoors when the haze is bad? Employers have a general duty to take reasonably practicable steps to protect staff. MOM’s guidance asks them to reduce or reschedule prolonged or strenuous outdoor work when air quality is poor and add rest breaks. Raise concerns with your supervisor or HR first.
Is working from home during haze a legal right in Singapore? No, there is no automatic legal right, but many employers allow it where the role permits. Make a specific written request and attach a doctor’s note if you have a health condition. Check the tripartite guidelines on flexible work arrangement requests.
Is it safe to wear an N95 mask for a whole shift? It can make breathing harder during physical work, so stop, rest and tell your supervisor if you feel dizzy, breathless or unwell. People with heart or lung conditions and pregnant employees should ask their doctor whether long periods in a respirator are suitable.
What should I do if I feel unwell at work because of haze? Tell your supervisor straight away, move to a cleaner indoor area and drink water. See a doctor if symptoms are significant or do not ease, and seek urgent care for chest pain or severe breathlessness.
Where do I report a workplace that ignores haze safety? Raise it internally first with your supervisor, HR or the workplace safety committee and keep notes of what you raised and when. If that fails, contact MOM through its official channels to report workplace safety concerns.
Official sources: Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Further reading: Should You Run the Aircon During the Haze? · Working Night Shifts: Staying Healthy as a Shift Worker in Singapore