This document provides an overview and guidelines for responding to haze pollution from forest fires in Southeast Asia. It discusses the causes and impacts of transboundary haze, as well as regional treaties and measures to address the issue. The document outlines air quality indices used in Malaysia and Singapore and provides general health guidelines for the public. It also presents preparatory and risk mitigation measures businesses and employers can implement during haze events, as well as considerations for determining an appropriate response based on haze severity and worker health conditions. An example response plan for schools under different air quality levels is also included.

2. Response Planning for
Transboundary Haze
Jeremy Wong
Senior Vice President
GMH Pte Ltd
7 October 2015

3. Presentation Overview
1. Introduction - Pollution in SEA
2. Impact of haze on businesses
3. Regional treaties on transboundary haze
4. Air Quality Indices
5. Preparatory measures
6. Risk Mitigating measures
7. Examples

4. Haze Pollution in South East Asia
• Countries in South East Asia have been affected by
severe smoke haze due to forest fires in the region
periodically
• Due to the common practice of open burning to clear
land for agricultural uses
• Made worse by dry seasons, changes in wind direction
and poor precipitation
• Businesses should also be taking action to ensure that
their staff are better equipped to deal with haze when
it occurs.

5. Regional Haze Efforts
• 1995. ASEAN Cooperation Plan on Transboundary Pollution containing
broad policies and strategies to deal with transboundary pollution
• 1997. Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP) focuses on preventive
measures, regional monitoring mechanisms, and fire fighting capability
• 2002. ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, signed by
10 countries to bring the RHAP into function. The treaty calls for
concerted national efforts and intensified regional and international
cooperation.
• 2014. All 10 countries have ratified the
Agreement.

6. Impacts
• Environment
– Pollution = greenhouse gases
– Global warming
– Ecologies and habitats destroyed
• Health
– Respiratory illnesses
– Red/sore eyes
– Sore throat
– Rashes
• Economy
– Curtailment of activities due to poor visibility
– Loss of tourism
– Loss of commercial business

7. Air Quality Indices
To measure air quality,
• Malaysia uses the Air Pollution Index (API) which reports on
the concentration of 5 major air pollutants which could
cause potential harm to human health should they reach
unhealthy levels - ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO),
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and
particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 micron
(PM10)
• Singapore users the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) which
reports on the concentration of six pollutants - sulphur
dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate
matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide
(CO) and ozone (O3)

8. Air Quality Indices
24-hour Index Category Description
≤ 100 Good/Moderate
101 - 200 Unhealthy
201 - 300 Very Unhealthy
> 300 Hazardous
For both API and PSI,

9. General Guidelines for Public
24-hour Index Healthy Elderly, Pregnant Lung/Heart Disease
Good/Moderate Normal activities Normal activities Normal activities
Unhealthy Reduce prolonged or
strenuous outdoor
work
Minimise prolonged or
strenuous outdoor
work
Avoid prolonged or
strenuous outdoor
work
Very Unhealthy Avoid prolonged or
strenuous outdoor
work
Minimise outdoor
work
Avoid outdoor work
Hazardous Minimise outdoor
work
Avoid outdoor work Avoid outdoor work

10. Reduce Respond Recover Resume Restore Return
Plan Implementation
Reduce Respond Recover Resume Restore Return
Reduce
Likelihood
Reduce
Impact
Risk Analysis
PREPARATORY
MEASURES
RISK MITIGATION
(RESPONSE)
MEASURES HAZE
PLAN
Diplomatic
Channels

11. General Guidelines for Employers
24-hour Index General Measures
Good/Moderate • Initiate preparatory measures to protect the safety and health of employees
against the effects of haze.
Unhealthy • Take risk mitigating measures such as use of mechanical aids, job rotation,
instituting indoor rest breaks, ensuring adequate hydration, etc.
Very Unhealthy • Take risk mitigating measures such as use of mechanical aids, job rotation,
instituting indoor rest breaks, ensuring adequate hydration, etc.
• If prolonged or strenuous outdoor work is not avoidable, and an employer still
requires an employee to do so due to extenuating circumstances, the
employer is strongly urged to provide masks.
Hazardous • Take additional risk mitigating measures such as job redeployment, reducing
the intensity and duration of outdoor work, institute regular breaks or
deferment of non-essential jobs.
• If outdoor work is not avoidable, and an employer still requires an employee
to do so due to extenuating circumstances, masks or appropriate respirators
(e.g. full face respirators for prolonged outdoor work at 24-hour PSI>400)
should be provided.
• Risk assessment should consider the additional risk posed by poor visibility for
work activities such as lifting operations involving tower and mobile cranes.

12. Preparatory Measures
1. Establish a Haze Management Policy
2. Identify types of outdoor activities performed by company
staff
3. Identify susceptible employees.
4. Stock up - disposable N95 masks
5. Determine if air cleaning devices are required
6. Ensure sufficient remote access capacity for staff working
from home
7. Designate rest areas for outdoor workers
8. Communicate the policy and guidelines to staff
9. Educate staff on plans and proper use of masks
10. Monitor haze situation – media/authorities

13. Risk Mitigating Measures
1. Reduce/minimize/avoid physical activity, e.g. by using mechanical
aids
2. Equip outdoor workers with N95 masks
3. Allow more frequent breaks in enclosed spaces (use air cleaners, if
necessary)
4. Increase hydration
5. Re-assign work/duties to enclosed space
6. Shorten the number of hours of outdoor work (shift-work)
7. Allow work from enclosed home to reduce outdoor travel
8. Seek medical help for staff experiencing significant difficulties
9. Close auto-sliding doors to reduce outdoor air entering
10. Defer non-essential outdoor work

14. Key Considerations
1. Severity of haze
– How bad is the haze?
– What is the air quality index showing?
2. Type and intensity of activity
– Indoor/outdoor?
– Light/strenuous?
– Short time/prolonged
3. Health condition of workers
– Chronic lung and/or heart conditions?
– Elderly?
– Pregnant?

15. Example 2: Schools
Index Category Management Measures
≤100
(Good/Moderate)
· Normal activities
101-200
(Unhealthy)
· Schools will minimise outdoor activities such as outdoor assembly, outdoor camps and sports
activities.
· Students and staff who are unwell will be temporarily accommodated in an air-conditioned room with
an air purifier, before they are taken to seek medical attention. Parents of these students will also be
notified.
· Students with pre-existing lung and heart conditions or are unwell will be exempted from all physical
exercise.
201-300
(Very Unhealthy)
· There will be no physical exercises (indoor and outdoor).
· Classroom lessons will continue, but lessons may be modified as appropriate. For instance,
students may be assigned work that can be completed at their desks.
· Students and staff who are unwell will be temporarily accommodated in an air-conditioned room with
an air purifier, before they are taken to seek medical attention. Parents of these students will also be
notified.
· Students with pre-existing lung and heart conditions will be moved to enclosed indoor spaces, such
as school library.
> 300
(Hazardous)
If PSI reaches 'Hazardous' level during school hours:
· Schools will scale down lessons.
· All students, including those with pre-existing lung and heart conditions, will be in enclosed indoor
spaces, including classrooms with doors and windows fully closed. Schools will spread out students
across the enclosed indoor spaces, such as the library, to allow for better thermal comfort and
ventilation.
· Students and staff who are unwell will be temporarily accommodated in an air-conditioned room with
an air purifier, before they are taken to seek medical attention. Parents of these students will also be
notified.
The Ministry will consider closing all primary and secondary schools to students when the health advisory
for the next day indicates that the air quality will be at the hazardous level

16. Thank You
Jeremy Wong
jeremy@gmhasia.com