Express and postal deliveries in Singapore have been dramatically hit by massive smog and hazecaused by illegal forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, forcing operators to take
emergency measures and TNT even to suspend operations.Pollution levels in Singapore have soared to their highest recorded levels and are officially “hazardous” due to the effects of smog and haze drifting from nearby Sumatra. The city-state’sgovernment has advised citizens to stay indoors and the financial centre is reportedly shrouded insmoke.
TNT Express said today that it has suspended operations in Singapore because of the haze. “Thisis to protect our employees from the pollution levels in Singapore. The PSI reading as at 12pmtoday is at 401 in the “Hazardous” range,” the company said. It will continue to suspend itsoperations as long as the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) level stays at 300 and above.
“To provide sufficient rest for our drivers who had been exposed to the unhealthy level of hazethroughout this week, pick-up and delivery activities on Saturday, 22 June 2013, will only beprovided for our Healthcare and Major Accounts customers. We are monitoring the situation closely,”TNT added.
Singapore Post has proactively put in place a Haze Management Plan equipping its delivery staffwith face masks and eye drops to ensure it meets its national service obligations. With about 1,400outdoor staff delivering mail and parcels every day, SingPost is taking this measure to protect thehealth of their employees who are constantly exposed to the elements, especially outdoor personnelsuch as postmen and couriers.
The postal operator has started communicating with its relevant customers to inform them aboutpossible delays and to work out alternative solutions.
SingPost also set up a Haze Management Task Force at its headquarters reporting directly to CEOWolfgang Baier. It has advised all operational staff to focus on regulated and essential services.At the operations facilities, dedicated meeting rooms are being used as Holding/Recovery rooms. Inaddition, a hotline has also been set up for staff who require assistance or have questions.
Under the Haze Management Plan, SingPost will manage its capacity according to the hazesituation and the PSI readings. The plan outlines guidelines with all outdoor staff having to wearN95 masks when the PSI level is in the 100-199 range. High risk staff above 65 and those with ahistory of respiratory and heart conditions will be re-deployed to do indoor work.
SingPost said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with and take advicefrom the relevant government agencies acting in accordance with the haze situation.
“SingPost is committed to our service obligation. We are also very concerned with the health ofour people who are outdoors the entire day doing delivery. These are our two main priorities. OurHaze Management Plan will help to ensure minimal disruption to basic postal services whilesafeguarding our staff’s health,” Baier said.
With smoky haze also impacting the air freight operations in Singapore, the Civil AviationAuthority of Singapore (CAAS) closed Seletar Airport, the second airport in the country, to alldeparting and arriving flights yesterday as a result of prolonged poor visibility caused by thehaze. Flights to Changi Airport are currently operating normally.
Yesterday, Singapore demanded Indonesia take definitive action as the two neighbours preparedfor emergency talks that are now taking place in Jakarta to ease the severe smog enveloping thecity-state. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has warned that the haze caused by airpollution could last for weeks.
