[CM] [SIT] [E3] [PB] [CS] [3] Playbook for Severe Haze Scenario

Severe Haze Crisis Scenario for Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

Note from the Author

This is an introductory chapter for the crisis scenario: Severe Haze Crisis for Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

The content provides the reader with background, planning assumptions, and considerations before developing the detailed steps to be taken pre-crisis, during crisis, and post-crisis.

When developing the detailed steps for the crisis management playbook, these steps are further broken down into three stages.  

Introduction to Playbook

Severe Haze Crisis Scenario Attributed to a Super El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) operates in an increasingly complex risk environment in which climate-related events have become more frequent, severe, and prolonged.

One of the most significant regional environmental threats affecting Singapore is transboundary haze resulting from extensive land and forest fires across Southeast Asia.

Forecasts indicating the emergence of a Super El Niño combined with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) suggest an elevated likelihood of prolonged dry weather, increased wildfire activity, and severe haze episodes affecting Singapore during the August to September period.

Such conditions may significantly impact air quality, public health, campus operations, academic delivery, research activities, student welfare, and essential support services.

This Crisis Management Playbook provides SIT with a structured operational guide for managing a severe haze crisis before, during, and after the event.

It complements the University's Crisis Management Plan and Business Continuity Management framework by translating strategic policies into practical response actions.

The playbook establishes clear activation criteria, governance arrangements, decision-making processes, communication protocols, and operational procedures to safeguard students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors while maintaining continuity of teaching, research, and critical university services.

It also emphasises collaboration with government agencies, healthcare providers, industry partners, and the wider community to ensure a coordinated institutional response.

The playbook is organised into three integrated phases.

• Before the Crisis (Preparedness and Prevention/Reduction):  The Before-Crisis Phase focuses on monitoring emerging threats, assessing risks, preparing resources, and strengthening institutional readiness before haze conditions deteriorate.

• During the Crisis (Response, Recovery, and Resume): The During-Crisis Phase outlines the actions required to protect health and safety, sustain academic and research activities, manage communications, and coordinate operational decisions.

• After the Crisis (Recovery, Restore and Return Home):  The Recovery Phase provides guidance for restoring campus operations, supporting the recovery of students and staff, reviewing organisational performance, capturing lessons learned, and strengthening resilience against future climate-related disruptions.

Together, these phases provide a comprehensive and repeatable framework for enabling SIT to respond confidently and effectively to severe haze events while protecting its educational mission and institutional reputation.

View CM Playbook with Detailed Steps

Pre-Crisis:  Preparedness and Prevention/ Reduction
During-Crisis:  Response, Recovery and Resume
Post-Crisis:  Recovery, Restore and Return Home

Click the icon for the crisis management playbook for the three stages: Pre-, During-, and Post-crisis

Overview of Playbook Structure

Phase 1 – Before the Crisis

(Preparedness and Prevention/Reduction)

1. Situation Monitoring

• Monitor NEA PSI and PM2.5 readings continuously
• Monitor ASEAN haze alerts
• Monitor weather forecasts
• Monitor the Ministry of Health advisories
• Monitor the Ministry of Education guidance
• Monitor SIIA regional haze reports
• Monitor campus environmental sensors

2. Crisis Monitoring and Escalation

Develop trigger levels based upon:

• Air Quality Index
• PSI
• PM2.5
• Forecast duration
• Health advisories
• Number of affected campuses
• Operational impact

Example escalation:

• Green
• Yellow
• Orange
• Red

3. Crisis Management Team Readiness

Activate readiness for:

• Crisis Management Team
• Emergency Operations Centre
• Campus Incident Management Teams
• Health & Safety Team
• Facilities Management
• Communications Team
• Student Affairs
• Human Resources
• Academic Affairs
• IT Services

4. Risk Assessment

Assess impacts on:

• Student health
• Faculty health
• Laboratory activities
• Outdoor learning
• Clinical placements
• Industry attachments
• Construction projects
• Campus events
• Graduation ceremonies
• Sports programmes
• Campus transportation

5. Resource Preparation

Prepare:

• N95 masks
• Indoor air purifiers
• Portable air cleaners
• Additional medical supplies
• Emergency PPE
• Water supplies
• Indoor activity spaces
• Alternative teaching facilities

6. Academic Continuity Planning

Identify:

• Courses suitable for online delivery
• Outdoor modules
• Laboratory priorities
• Remote assessment procedures
• Flexible attendance policies
• Examination contingency plans

7. Business Continuity Preparation

Review continuity plans for:

• Teaching
• Research
• ICT
• Student Services
• Library
• Procurement
• Campus Security
• Estates Management

8. Communications Preparation

Prepare:

• Student advisories
• Staff advisories
• Parent notifications
• Media holding statements
• FAQs
• Website updates
• Social media messages

9. External Coordination

Coordinate with:

• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Health
• National Environment Agency
• Ministry of Manpower
• Campus healthcare providers
• Partner universities
• Industry partners
• Hostel operators

Phase 2 – During the Crisis

(Response, Recovery and Resume)

1. Activate Crisis Management Team

Initiate:

• Crisis Management Plan
• Emergency Operations Centre
• Situation reporting
• Incident logging
• Decision-making cycle

2. Assess Operational Impact

Determine impacts on:

• Campuses
• Students
• Staff
• Visitors
• Academic activities
• Research laboratories
• Events
• Essential services

3. Protect Health and Safety

Implement:

• Distribution of N95 masks
• Indoor shelter guidance
• Air quality monitoring
• Closure of outdoor facilities
• Health monitoring
• Medical support
• Protection for vulnerable individuals

4. Modify Academic Operations

Depending on haze severity:

• Suspend outdoor classes
• Convert lectures online
• Hybrid teaching
• Postpone practical sessions
• Reschedule examinations
• Suspend sporting activities
• Adjust attendance requirements

5. Campus Operations

Implement:

• Building ventilation adjustments
• Air filtration enhancement
• Indoor air quality monitoring
• Reduced outdoor maintenance
• Suspension of construction where necessary
• Building access management

6. Student Welfare Management

Provide:

• Medical assistance
• Counselling
• Accommodation support
• International student assistance
• Financial assistance if required
• Welfare hotline

7. Staff Welfare

Implement:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Remote working
• Occupational health support
• Medical leave flexibility
• PPE distribution

8. Communications

Issue regular updates covering:

• Air quality
• Campus operating status
• Class arrangements
• Health guidance
• Transport disruptions
• Frequently asked questions

Channels include:

• SIT website
• Email
• SMS
• Mobile app
• Social media
• Digital signage

9. Media Management

Coordinate:

• Press statements
• Media enquiries
• Public information
• Government messaging alignment

10. Operational Continuity

Maintain continuity of:

• Online learning
• Critical research
• Essential laboratories
• IT services
• Student services
• Finance
• Security

11. Situation Reporting

Provide scheduled reports including:

• Current PSI
• PM2.5
• Campus status
• Health statistics
• Operational impacts
• Emerging risks
• Decisions made

Phase 3 – After the Crisis

1. Recovery Assessment

Confirm:

• Air quality improvement
• Government advisories lifted
• Safe campus environment
• Building inspections completed

2. Resume Academic Activities

Return to:

• Face-to-face teaching
• Outdoor practicals
• Laboratory sessions
• Student activities
• Sports programmes
• Campus events

3. Facilities Recovery

Inspect:

• HVAC systems
• Air filtration systems
• Building cleanliness
• Laboratory environments
• Sensitive equipment

Replace filters where required.

4. Student Recovery Support

Provide:

• Medical follow-up
• Counselling
• Academic catch-up sessions
• Attendance support
• Examination adjustments

5. Staff Recovery

Conduct:

• Occupational health reviews
• Flexible work transition
• Staff wellbeing support

6. Financial Assessment

Assess:

• Additional operational costs
• PPE expenditure
• Air filtration costs
• Cleaning expenses
• Event postponement costs
• Academic disruption costs

7. Documentation

Compile:

• Timeline
• Decisions
• Communications
• Costs
• Issues encountered
• Good practices

8. Lessons Learned Review

Conduct a structured review involving:

• Crisis Management Team
• Academic leadership
• Facilities Management
• Student Affairs
• Health & Safety
• Communications
• ICT
• Campus operations

9. Improvement Plan

Update:

• Crisis Management Plan
• Haze response procedures
• Business Continuity Plans
• Health protocols
• Communications templates
• Remote learning procedures
• Campus resilience measures

10. Future Preparedness

Strengthen resilience by:

• Expanding indoor air quality monitoring
• Increasing stockpiles of PPE and air filtration resources
• Enhancing digital learning capabilities
• Improving campus ventilation systems
• Conducting annual haze preparedness exercises
• Establishing stronger regional information-sharing arrangements
• Reviewing climate adaptation strategies as part of institutional resilience planning

Crisis Timeline Summary

This playbook provides SIT with a structured lifecycle approach to managing a severe haze crisis, ensuring the safety of students and staff while maintaining educational continuity, protecting research activities, and supporting institutional resilience before, during, and after prolonged transboundary haze events.

The Severe Haze Crisis Playbook provides the Singapore Institute of Technology with a comprehensive operational framework for managing one of the region's most significant recurring environmental threats.

By adopting a lifecycle approach encompassing preparedness, response, and recovery, the playbook enables SIT to minimise health risks, maintain academic and research continuity, sustain essential campus services, and ensure coordinated decision-making during periods of prolonged transboundary haze.

The guidance in the playbook supports the timely activation of crisis governance, effective communication with stakeholders, and the deployment of appropriate protective measures in response to evolving environmental conditions.

Beyond responding to a single incident, this playbook reinforces SIT's long-term commitment to organisational resilience and continuous improvement.

Through regular training, testing, post-incident reviews, and updates to crisis management and business continuity arrangements, the University can continually enhance its readiness for future haze events and other climate-related emergencies.

By integrating leadership, planning, operational coordination, and stakeholder engagement, SIT will be well-positioned to safeguard its people, protect its critical functions, and continue to fulfil its mission of delivering high-quality applied education and research under challenging conditions.

View CM Playbook with Detailed Steps

Pre-Crisis:  Preparedness and Prevention/ Reduction

During-Crisis:  Response, Recovery and Resume

Post-Crisis:  Recovery, Restore and Return Home

Click the icon for the crisis management playbook for the three stages: Pre-, During-, and Post-crisis 

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/ Hybrid Learning Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].