Managing heat stress as Singapore gets warmer
2023 was Singapore’s fourth-hottest year1, with a sweltering high of 37°C in May 2023. In the Third National Climate Change Study2, Singapore’s climate is projected to become warmer, with very hot days becoming more frequent by the end of this century.
The rise in temperatures put workers, especially those working outdoors, at an increased risk of heat stress. For work to continue in a safe manner, employers will need to do more to protect outdoor workers.
In the upcoming months, the Ministry of Manpower will be conducting workplace inspections in the construction, shipyards and process industries, to check the effectiveness of heat stress measures for outdoor work.
Figure 1: Workers at a construction site working under direct sun.
Implementing an Effective Heat Stress Management Programme
To protect workers and increase resilience to rising temperatures, employers are required to implement enhanced heat stress measures for outdoor work3. Workplaces are to ensure effective implementation of the following protective measures:
Other Heat Stress Protective Measures
- Adequate ventilation: Cool rest and work areas with fans or air coolers.
- Light-coloured clothes: Provide breathable, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing for outdoor workers to wear.
- Work rescheduling: Carry out physical work during cooler parts of the day.
- Mechanical assistance: Reduce physical exertion with mechanical aids, like manual handling equipment and powered tools.
Early recognition of signs and symptoms: Implement a buddy system to aid early recognition of heat-related signs, symptoms and illnesses (e.g. fainting spells, disoriented behaviours) for prompt interventions.
Heat-related illnesses may affect workplace safety or lead to a workplace accident. The WSH Council urges employers to partner workers and manage heat stress effectively, for a safe and healthy workplace.
1 The Straits Times (29 Jan 2024): 2023 was Singapore’s 4th hottest year, based on records kept from 1929 onwards.
2 Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s Joint Media Release on Singapore’s Third National Climate Change Study (5 Jan 2024).
3 Ministry of Manpower’s Press Release on Enhanced Measures to Reduce Heat Stress for Outdoor Workers (Oct 2023).
4 Workers who are vulnerable to heat stress includes those who are newly assigned to outdoor work; unacclimatised to working in hot environments (e.g. new or returning from countries with a cold climate); returning from long leave of more than a week; recovering from prolonged illness; and have personal factors (e.g. chronic diseases, medication use, history of heat injury or pregnant).
5 Refer to Page 17 of WSH Guidelines on Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace for an example of how to gradually increase a worker’s daily heat exposure.
For more information:
Ministry of Manpower
Enhanced Heat Stress Measures for Outdoor Work
FAQs on Heat Stress Measures for Outdoor Work
National Environment Agency
Workplace Safety and Health Institute
OWLinks Issue 79 – Heat Stress in the Workplace
Workplace Safety and Health Council
WSH Guidelines on Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace
Heat Stress Management Compliance Checklist
