From October 25, 2023, employers in Singapore are required to provide outdoor employees with hourly breaks of at least five minutes when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reaches 32 degrees Celsius or higher. The new measure is aimed at reducing the risks of heat stress on outdoor workers, who are more exposed to heat due to their work activities and have less discretion over their work schedules.
The amount of rest required per hour will depend on the WBGT reading and the level of physical activity being performed. For example, an outdoor worker performing light physical activity in a WBGT of 32-33 degrees Celsius will need to take a break of five to 10 minutes every hour. An outdoor worker performing heavy physical activity in a WBGT of 33 degrees Celsius or higher will need to take a break of 15 minutes every hour.
Employers can monitor the WBGT readings using the National Environment Agency’s myENV app. Construction sites with a contract sum of $5 million or more, shipyards, and the process industry will also be required to have an on-site WBGT meter.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has said that employers will be required to implement these measures and that it will conduct inspections at workplaces to ensure that these measures are adequately implemented.
