At a large urban area construction site in Thuong Phuc commune (Hanoi City), after 10 am on September 4, workers were absent from the construction site.
Ms. Lo Thi Dung, team leader of a group of 5 workers, said that every working day for workers starts early and ends quite late: Morning shift from 6-10am, afternoon shift from 14-18pm.
Working at this time frame, we avoid the harsh sunlight in the middle of the day, avoid losing water and strength. For about 4 hours at noon, workers take advantage of eating, resting, and taking a nap to regain strength," Ms. Dung said.
Mr. Lo Van Dinh, 26 years old, from Tuan Giao commune (Dien Bien province) is a steel structure installation worker at the construction site.
Mr. Dinh said that after 6 years of working as a construction worker, he is used to the sun and wind, but the scorching sun in the steel girder this season is not an easy challenge.
It's only 9 am, but the iron and steel are already as hot as coal, touching it makes it burning hot. If you keep working hours starting from 7:30 am or 8 am, you can't stand until noon, workers can't bear it," Mr. Dinh said.
According to Mr. Dinh, to cope with the weather, the construction site commander and workers agreed to adjust the working hours. The morning shift starts from 6 am, the afternoon shift starts from 2 pm to avoid the harshest sunny hours of the day, protecting health while still ensuring workload.
Having a lot of experience, Mr. Dinh said that he always wears two layers of cotton protective clothing that absorbs sweat, wears a fan-covered air conditioner shirt on the outside, wears a thick mask and uses a water-soaked towel wrapped around his neck to directly cool down large blood vessels. Regarding eating and drinking, in addition to the available filtered water, Mr. Dinh proactively prepares a jar of lemon salt water or coconut water mixed with a little salt to bring with him.
For lunch at the boarding house, I don't eat greasy foods, but increase green vegetables and sour soup to cool down. At night, even if I'm tired, I have to try to sleep early, turn on a cool fan so that my body can recover in time. Working in the sunny season, the number one principle is to listen to my body; if I feel dizzy or dizzy, I must actively go into the shade to rest immediately, absolutely do not try too hard and put your life in danger," Mr. Dinh said.
Also working in the same group as Mr. Dinh is Ms. Dao Thi Lien, 50 years old, from Muong Thanh ward (Dien Bien province). Ms. Lien is a construction worker and site cleaner.
Ms. Lien shared that women working on construction sites this season are twice as hard. In September, the sun is no longer as dazzling as summer itself, but it is still very hot, plus the dry factor, so people lose water very quickly.
This season, if I eat and drink poorly, my blood pressure drops right on the scaffolding. In the morning, before going to work, I always eat a firm breakfast, prioritizing sticky rice and rice. During the day, we sisters take turns cooking cool drinks such as nhân trần, roasted black bean juice to take to the construction site to share and drink.
In the construction area, women take advantage of building temporary shacks made of tarpaulin and cardboard to make a mid-shift resting place. When working, every 45 minutes to 1 hour, I proactively stop for 5 minutes, step into the shade, wipe away sweat and drink small sips of water. Absolutely do not drink the entire cold water bottle at once because it is very easy to cause sore throat and heat shock," Ms. Lien confided.
Ms. Lien added that maintaining a comfortable spirit is also very important. The scorching sunlight makes everyone easily irritable, so brothers and sisters at the construction site always remind and support each other. Tired people, healthy people bear some of the heavy work.
According to Ms. Lo Thi Dung, although the work is hard, everyone at the construction site is united and loves each other. Thanks to that, the progress of work is always guaranteed and the income is good.
Currently, the company pays salaries to workers and laborers twice a month, on the 15th and last day of the month. With an income of 11-17 million VND/month, workers have conditions to cover living expenses and take care of their children's education.
For us, hardship in work is not a big barrier. Every job has difficulties, the important thing is that we proactively overcome them to ensure requirements and work progress," Ms. Dung said.
