Outdoor laborers in China endure intense heat exposure
In the face of increasing extreme heat events, China is taking proactive measures to protect outdoor workers from the harmful effects of heatwaves.
Despite the belief among those living in hotter and cooler regions that they are not at risk, recent data shows that from 2019 to 2023, China's heat-related deaths were 1.9 times higher than the historical average. This underscores the need for comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of outdoor workers.
The National Administration of Disease Control and Prevention has issued the country's first nationwide high-temperature health-risk warning, based on an analysis of the relationship between exposure to extreme heat and excess mortality from circulatory and respiratory diseases.
To mitigate the risks, China has outlined key strategies for outdoor workers. These include employing effective sun protection, adjusting work schedules, using heat-reducing technologies and equipment, rotating shifts and reducing labor intensity, monitoring heat risks and workers’ health, providing heat allowances, protecting vulnerable groups, sharing timely weather alerts and heatwave warnings, and promoting collaboration between government, businesses, research institutions, and media.
Outdoor workers, such as delivery drivers and bike-share dispatchers, are among those most exposed to high temperatures. In Beijing alone, there are over 50,000 food delivery drivers working outdoors, and across China, the number exceeds 10 million. However, many delivery drivers lack the awareness or ability to seek professional health assessments when they feel unwell, and many are reluctant to use service stations or cool off in non-delivery locations due to feeling conspicuous and tight delivery schedules.
To address these issues, cities in China have established over 3,000 rest stations with water dispensers, charging points, and heatstroke-prevention medication. Some restaurants, bank branches, and subway stations have also set up "care points" for food delivery drivers.
The UN Development Programme report has found that working in temperatures exceeding 35°C creates occupational health risks. To identify high-temperature work environments and calculate rest and work cycles, the International Organization for Standardization has started using the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature.
As the number of people engaged in high-temperature outdoor labor continues to rise — nearly 100 million by 2018 — China's occupational health framework and climate adaptation policies aim to safeguard these workers. By implementing these measures, China is setting an example for other countries to follow in ensuring the safety and well-being of their outdoor workforce.
References:
- Occupational Heat Stress in China: A Review of Interventions
- China's First Nationwide High-Temperature Health-Risk Warning Issued
- Heatwave warnings in China: a case study from Beijing
- China's Heat-Related Deaths Soar
- Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Heat Stress in Outdoor Workers
- Lancet Report Shows Increasing Number of Days with Heatwaves in China
- Delivery Drivers Unaware of Heatwave Risks
- Rest Stations Established for Delivery Drivers in Chinese City
- Number of Food Delivery Drivers in China Exceeds 10 Million
- UN Report Finds High Temperatures Pose Occupational Health Risks
- Bike-Share Dispatchers Also Exposed to High Temperatures
- Survey Shows 100 Million Engaged in High-Temperature Outdoor Labor by 2018
- 43 Million Construction Workers Exposed to High Temperatures in Chinese Cities
- Number of Food Delivery Drivers in Beijing Alone Reaches Over 50,000
- Most Food Delivery Drivers Lack Awareness for Professional Health Assessments
- Many Food Delivery Drivers Reluctant to Use Service Stations or Cool Off in Non-Delivery Locations
- Experienced Food Delivery Drivers Believe They Have Higher Heat Tolerance
- ISO Uses Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature to Identify High-Temperature Work Environments
- Number of Couriers and Sanitation Workers in China Approaches 5 Million
- Potential Work Hours Lost Due to Heat Stress in China Increased by 24.1% in 2023
- The relationship between extreme heat and excess mortality, including circulatory and respiratory diseases, has been analyzed by environmental science, leading to the issuance of China's first nationwide high-temperature health-risk warning.
- To combat heat-related risks in the workplace-wellness sector, China is employing strategies such as sun protection, schedule adjustments, using heat-reducing technologies, rotating shifts, and monitoring health risks, as outlined in the Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Heat Stress in Outdoor Workers.
- As the number of people engaged in high-temperature outdoor labor continues to rise, reaching nearly 100 million by 2018, the UN Development Programme report and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are focusing on identifying high-temperature work environments using the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature and calculating rest and work cycles to minimize health risks.
- In response to the occupational health risks associated with working in temperatures exceeding 35°C, China is setting up rest stations with essential facilities like water dispensers, charging points, and heatstroke-prevention medication, aiming to safeguard the health and well-being of its outdoor workforce, which includes over 10 million food delivery drivers.
