GrabBike Drivers help shape ICAN App to better protect outdoor workers during extreme weather

SLO – More than 120 GrabBike drivers in Ho Chi Minh City have helped refine a new mobile app designed to protect outdoor workers from the growing health risks of climate change. During a launch event organised by the SocialLife Research Institute (SocialLife), drivers tested the Intelligent Climate Alert Network (ICAN) app and shared practical suggestions to improve its usefulness for workers who spend long hours on the road.

An overview of the interactive workshop, where drivers shared real-world insights to help refine the app’s utility map. SocialLife

The ICAN app was developed as part of the international research project “The health impacts of climate change on precarious outdoor workers in urban megacities in Vietnam“ – funded by the Wellcome Trust (UK) and led by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen, UK in collaboration with SocialLife, Vietnam Medical Association, LIGHT, and the University of Bristol. It provides real-time weather alerts, first-aid guidance, a map of essential services for people working outdoors, as well as direct connections for expert consultations. It is free to download on both iOS and Android.

Within 15 minutes of the live demonstration, ICAN had already been downloaded over 120 times, with 110 drivers successfully registering to use the app immediately. The strong response shows both the urgency of protecting outdoor workers during extreme weather and the practical value of a tool tailored to their daily needs.

SocialLife staff providing technical support, guiding drivers through the installation and registration process. SocialLife.

User-driven improvements from drivers’ lived experience

During the testing session, GrabBike drivers proposed several enhancements based on their everyday routes and work challenges. Current ICAN features include a utility map with charity food outlets (“0-dong” eateries) and free drinking water stations. Drivers recommended expanding this map to include:

• petrol stations and motorbike repair shops,
• electric vehicle (EV) battery swap points,
• rest stops such as “hammock cafes”
• resting areas equipped with EV and mobile phone charging facilities.

Such feedback reflects the realities of working long hours in traffic and harsh weather conditions, where access to shade, rest, water, and essential services makes a tangible difference to health and safety.

Drivers also suggested adding a crowdsourcing feature where users can contribute new locations to the map, supported by a reward point system to encourage active participation. They further recommended partnering with local restaurants and cafes to establish a wider network of ICAN-recognised rest stops.

A representative from the development team noted that the event provided a valuable opportunity to listen directly to workers, helping them prioritise which new features to develop next.

The ICAN app successfully installed on drivers’ smartphones, ready to provide real-time climate alerts. SocialLife

Part of a wider programme on climate and precarious work

This engagement builds on SocialLife’s broader activities since mid‑2024 within the Wellcome‑funded project in collaboration with NatCen. These include:

• surveys with more than 400 outdoor workers across four major cities
• four policy roundtable discussions
• publication of the Green Book on climate change and outdoor labour
• the “Pioneer in Climate Change Adaptation 2025” competition
• provision of free health insurance for 101 workers

Next steps: Updating ICAN ahead of the 2026 heatwave season

SocialLife confirmed that the suggestions from the GrabBike drivers will be integrated into the next major update of ICAN, scheduled for release ahead of the 2026 heatwave season. The team will continue to consult outdoor worker groups in other cities to ensure the app remains relevant, inclusive, and responsive to worker’s lived experiences.

SocialLife Research Institute