雾霾可能在新加坡达到危险水平，户外工作者面临的权衡可能变得更加尖锐。他们应该优先考虑健康还是生计？
the haze may reach hazardous levels in Singapore the tradeoff outdoor workers face may become more acute. Should they prioritise their health or livelihoods?
尽管新加坡部分地区的空气质量已达到非常不健康的水平，但我昨天早上通勤时看到的道路施工工地依然热火朝天，外卖骑手们在交通中等待。
Even as air quality in parts of Singapore reached the very unhealthy range, road construction sites on my commute yesterday morning were as busy as ever and food delivery riders waited in the traffic.
新加坡的户外工作者提供着必不可少的服务。平台工作者在雾霾中为居家避雾的家庭送餐，而建筑工人、清洁工和保安则让新加坡持续运转。
Singapore's outdoor workers provide essential services. Platform workers deliver the food that families order while sheltering from the haze, while construction crews, cleaners and security guards keep Singapore up and running.
与那些可以在家工作或避免户外活动的人不同，这些工作者可能面临使减少暴露变得困难的财务压力。
Unlike those who can work from home or avoid outdoor activities, these workers may face financial pressures that make reducing their exposure difficult.
人力部代理部长贾斯敏·劳在周五（10月16日）表示，保护工人免受雾霾侵害对雇主来说“并非可选项”。人力部将发布进一步建议，指导雇主如何利用1小时PM2.5读数采取行动，这可能包括为脆弱工作者暂停户外工作。
Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau said on Friday (Oct 16) that protecting workers from the haze is “not optional” for employers The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will issue further advice on how employers can use 1-hour PM2.5 readings to take action, which may include pausing outdoor work for vulnerable workers.
外卖骑手面临显著风险。外卖骑手面临明显风险。无论雾霾条件如何，许多骑手仍选择留在路上工作，以赚取足够的收入。
PRONOUNCED RISKS FOR DELIVERY RIDERS Delivery riders face pronounced risks. Regardless of haze conditions, many are motivated to stay on the road to bring home sufficient income.
根据《平台工作者法》，平台运营商有责任保障工人的健康和安全，并有义务向他们提供雾霾防护建议。一些平台运营商，包括Grab和Foodpanda，已向工人分发了N95口罩。
Under the Platform Workers Act, platform operators are responsible for the health and safety of their workers and are obliged to advise them on haze protection. Some platform operators, including Grab and Foodpanda, have distributed N95 masks to workers.
然而，除了雾霾中的细颗粒物（PM2.5），外卖骑手还暴露于来自车辆排放的慢性污染中，这些排放物含有二氧化氮和一氧化碳，并产生其他有害污染物如臭氧。
However, beyond the fine particles (PM2.5) in haze, delivery riders are also exposed to chronic pollution from vehicle emissions which contain nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, and generate other harmful pollutants like ozone.
这意味着新加坡的24小时污染物标准指数（PSI）和PM2.5读数可能无法全面反映骑手在交通中花费大量时间时所暴露的空气质量情况。缺乏更本地化的信息，他们很难了解自身的暴露程度，或就何时采取额外防护措施做出明智决定。
This means that Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and PM2.5 readings may not give a complete picture of the air quality delivery riders are exposed to when they spend significant amounts of time in traffic. Without more localised information, it is difficult for them to get a picture of their own exposure or make informed decisions about when to take additional precautions.
在未来几周以及为应对未来的雾霾事件做准备期间，将空气质量监测扩展到高暴露区域（如繁忙路口和快递取货点）将非常有价值。理想情况下，测量应涵盖PSI的所有成分，而不仅仅是PM2.5。
In the coming weeks and in preparation for future haze episodes, it would be valuable to extend air quality monitoring to high-exposure locations, including busy intersections and delivery pick-up points. Ideally, measurements would include all the components in the PSI, not just PM2.5.
将此信息公开可帮助平台和工人自身了解个人暴露情况并采取适当的防护措施。
Making this information publicly accessible would help platforms and workers themselves understand their personal exposure and take appropriate protective action.
与此同时，户外工人及其雇主可以采取一些实际措施。佩戴合适的N95口罩能显著降低细颗粒物的吸入量。虽然口罩可能会让人感到闷热和不适，但当户外工作无法避免时，工人应在颗粒物污染水平升高期间使用口罩。
In the meantime, there are practical steps that outdoor workers and their employers can take. Properly fitted N95 masks do substantially reduce inhalation of fine particles. They may be hot and uncomfortable, but workers should use them during periods of elevated particulate pollution when outdoor work cannot be avoided.
平台运营商、建筑公司及其他雇主可以帮助分发口罩并鼓励使用。口罩不能替代减少暴露，但它们能提供重要的额外防护层。
Platform operators, construction companies and other employers can help distribute masks and encourage their use. Masks are not a substitute for reducing exposure, but they can provide an important additional layer of protection.
奥利维亚·詹森（Olivia Jensen）博士是新加坡国立大学风险公众理解研究所的副所长兼首席科学家。
Olivia Jensen PhD is Deputy Director and Lead Scientist at the Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore.