Scorching heat and rising temperature are becoming a norm these days in Singapore. It’s a well-known fact the earth’s temperature is rising globally due to greenhouse emissions, effects of El Nino and climate change. According to the latest national climate change study, Singapore is facing the wrath of climate change. In the past, the daily average was 27.9°C to 32.9°C. Now, the average daily temperature is reaching a sweltering 36°C. This potential rise will have a profound impact on the health of different groups, especially the vulnerable, including the elderly, young children and outdoor workers.
With 80% or more of our households living in public flats, it’s a common sight to see almost every HDB unit is installed with big air-conditioners. Although they further increase our greenhouse emissions, there is really no short-term solutions in sight to cope with the ever rising temperatures. However, many of our HDB housing were designed and built in the 60s, 70s, 80s without any provision for air-con ledge, unlike new BTO flats these days. Some old HDB flats have just a small rectangle hole for small air-conditioners that are to be installed from the inside. These days, it’s again a common sight to see many air-con workers hang precariously and dangerously from the flat’s windows of these old HDB flats to install new air-con units or repairing them. While some safety-conscious workers would wear safety harness and restraint equipment for their high-risk work activities, some workers don’t. Other than heat stress, the hazards and risks of falling from height are very high for these workers.
While the Building Control Act
was amended in 1999 to mandate the replacement of wooden-frames for air-conditioner
to the use of stainless-steel brackets, no guidelines have been published for
the safe installation of air-conditioners from the external of older high-rise
HDB units. While the current HDB’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) retrofits
the interior of the older HDB unit but nothing is done externally other than to
add laundry racks, re-do the toilets, re-paint the exterior walls and
structures of the affected HDB blocks. HDB should consider to enhance this HIP
to retrofit and extend the window’s ledges with metallic railings to protect
the safety and well-being of air-con workers. There is no doubt the costs for each
HIP would increase but can we afford to ignore the safety and well-being of our
air-con workers and the means to prevent an accident from happening?
Finally, the authority and regulator have
jointly announced the requirements for this high-risk activity for air-con
installation on external walls of buildings.
However, the solution to this problem could be solved at the root rather than to use PPE for air-con installers who now have to obtain trainings, certifications, etc. Definitely, this would add up the costs which will be passed to the consumers.
Read MOM circular here: