Express operators were today resuming normal operations in Singapore after the heavy smog thatforced them to restrict operations on Friday drifted away from the city-state into southern
Malaysia.Air pollution levels in Singapore hit officially “hazardous” levels on Friday as a result ofseveral days of thick smoke blown over from illegal forest fires on the nearby Indonesian island ofSumatra. Many businesses in Singapore were forced to shut or limit their activities.
TNT Express Singapore suspended operations on Friday and ran a limited operation on Saturdaybecause of the haze in order to protect employees. Today, however, the company’s operations wereunderstood to have returned to normal.
Similarly, UPS said it was operating normally in Singapore today after taking emergency measureson Friday, including service limitations and issuing face-masks to all staff working outdoors.
Ingrid Sidiadinoto, Managing Director, UPS Singapore, told CEP-Research: “At United ParcelService, the safety and well-being of our employees is of paramount importance. Given the ‘hazardous’ PSI levels of over 300 on Friday 21 June, UPS Singapore limited afternoondeliveries and brought forward the cut off time for the pick-up of outbound shipmentsto 6pm. In line with UPS’ commitment to providing quality customer service, the UPS team alsopro-actively contacted frequent account holders to minimise any impact on pick-up schedulesgiven these changes.”
She added: “Moving forward, UPS will continue to monitor the situation closelyand adhere to government guidelines to ensure the health and well-being of ouremployees.”
DHL Express and FedEx Express did not respond to a CEP-Research query today about the status oftheir operations in Singapore.
Last week Singapore Post put in place a Haze Management Plan equipping its delivery staff withface masks and eye drops, and setting up a Haze Management Task Force.
