Occupational heat stress and perceptions of thermal comfort of street vendors in Jakarta, Indonesia

Aside from climate change, growing urbanization has considerably increased heat exposure due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Thus, the effect of the temperature change will be most noted in urban areas. In urban areas, many inhabitants are working outdoor, especially those in the service sector. Street vendors are a critical component of urban economies worldwide, providing convenient access to a diverse range of goods and services in public locations. Street vendors often work long shifts, from seven to thirteen hours. Despite the fact that their occupation is sedentary because they are seated or standing near their stalls, they are frequently seated in direct sunlight for long periods of time, exposed to high temperatures and humidity with no means of cooling. The problem of outdoor workers is made worse by the fact that the majority of the exposed population lives in substandard housing and lacks access to cool resting areas. This study aims to understand the perceptions of street vendors in regards to thermal comfort and heat exposure in Jakarta. Occupational heat stress management solutions are available, but their effectiveness depends on workers' awareness of the effects of heat stress, as well as prevention and control strategies. This study employed a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative analyses to provide a more comprehensive and accurate interpretation of the phenomena under investigation. In the qualitative phase, we explore the perceptions of 68 informal workers regarding heat stress and climate change using a modified HOTHAPS (High Occupational Temperature Health and Productivity Suppression) questionnaire. We then conducted a quantitative analysis of the perceptions of 204 informal workers regarding thermal comfort and heat exposure.