Outdoor laborers in China confront scorching temperatures at an extreme level

In the bustling cities of China, over 10 million food delivery drivers, including the 50,000 in Beijing alone, bravely navigate the streets daily, often under harsh weather conditions. A sociologist, Yu Kun, discovered that these drivers are reluctant to use service stations or cool off in non-delivery locations, feeling conspicuous and bound by tight delivery schedules [1].

The issue of climate change is a long-term challenge that requires diverse communication and education methods to reach everyone. While people living in cooler regions may believe there's no need to worry about heatwaves, those in hotter regions believe they're already accustomed to high temperatures. However, it's crucial to understand that working in temperatures exceeding 35°C creates occupational health risks, as found by a UN Development Programme report [2].

Outdoor workers, including food delivery drivers, construction workers, farmers, and older workers with underlying health conditions, face significant health risks during heatwaves. These risks include heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, headaches, and increased risk of work-related injuries due to impaired reaction speed and coordination in high temperatures [2]. Concurrent heatwaves and air pollution also elevate risks for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [4].

To address these risks, China has implemented protective measures. Employers are required to adopt heat-reducing technologies and design heat protection facilities in construction projects. They must conduct routine monitoring, occupational health examinations, and maintain health records. Pregnant women and underage workers are prohibited from high-temperature work classified as highly hazardous [3].

Broader measures recommended by multi-sectoral frameworks include heat-health warning systems, establishment of cooling centers, urban planning to reduce heat exposure, community awareness programs, and the creation of green corridors and reflective surfaces to mitigate urban heat islands [2].

In 2023, the Hangzhou government launched measures to protect food delivery drivers, including "break stations" [1]. Zhao's team developed a WeChat mini-program called High-Temperature Labour Risk Inquiry to provide information on the health risks of high temperatures and coping strategies for outdoor workers [1].

Unfortunately, most food delivery drivers interviewed didn't associate high temperatures with illnesses like heat stroke, heart attacks, and strokes [1]. This underscores the need for improvement in knowledge of heat-related health risks in wider society.

Research organizations should collaborate with relevant government departments in conducting surveys and studies to further clarify the impact of high temperatures on productivity within China's industrial structure and the health of different groups. The International Organization for Standardization uses the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature to identify high-temperature work environments and calculate rest and work cycles under different levels of physical exertion [2].

In 2023, the average number of days in which people in China were exposed to heatwaves reached 16, more than three times the historical average [5]. This increase has led to a 24.1% rise in potential work hours lost due to heat stress and a 1.9 times increase in heat-related deaths compared to the historical average [3][6].

The first meteorological orange alert for the risk of stroke from heat was released in June 2023 by the Tianjin Meteorological Observatory and the Tianjin Interdisciplinary Innovation Centre for Health and Meteorology [7]. Around 43 million construction workers, 5 million couriers and sanitation workers, and 5 million bike-share dispatchers are also exposed to high temperatures in Chinese cities [8].

Experts call for continued efforts to protect China's outdoor workers from the health impacts of extreme heat intensified by climate change, promoting safer working conditions and reducing heat-related morbidity and mortality in China’s labor force.

References: 1. Yu Kun, "The Heat is On: A Study of Food Delivery Drivers' Heat Tolerance and Coping Strategies in Beijing" 2. Multi-sectoral Framework for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Extreme Heat Events, World Health Organization 3. China's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regulations 4. Health Effects of Climate Change, World Health Organization 5. The Lancet report, 2023 6. China National Health Commission, 2023 7. Tianjin Meteorological Observatory and Tianjin Interdisciplinary Innovation Centre for Health and Meteorology, 2023 8. China Labour Statistical Yearbook, various years.

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