PETALING JAYA: Employers must assess risks and implement appropriate measures when the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeds 100 to protect workers from the hazards of haze.
The Occupational Safety and Health Department advised employers to monitor API readings regularly, reduce outdoor work and provide suitable respiratory protection according to the severity of the haze.
"Workers should watch for symptoms such as coughing, itchy throat, dry or stinging eyes, sneezing, itchy skin and breathing difficulties.
"As a preventive measure, employers should identify vulnerable workers, determine which outdoor activities can be reduced, set criteria for stopping outdoor work, stock up on N95 respirators and improve air filtration," the Occupational Safety and Health Department said in a Facebook post.
The department said companies should also establish clear communication channels to keep employees informed about haze conditions, and keep doors and windows shut.
According to guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Department, when API reaches the unhealthy range of 101 to 200, employers should reduce outdoor work, provide respirators to at-risk employees, move vulnerable workers indoors where necessary and water construction sites regularly to minimise dust.
If the reading rises to the very unhealthy range of 201 to 300, strenuous outdoor work should be avoided and earthworks or soil-moving activities temporarily suspended.
"Employers should also provide respirators to all outdoor workers and move vulnerable employees indoors where necessary. Workers, particularly those at higher risk, are advised to wear respirators, stay hydrated and use public transport where available," the department added.
API readings of zero to 50 indicate good air quality, while 51 to 100 is moderate. Readings of 101 to 200 are unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and those above 300 hazardous.
API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide.
