Security guard: The life without the sun
Working straightly 12 hours a day without natural sunlight under the stuffy basement is the real life of security guards for underground parking areas in Ha Noi city.
Published by The Mode
24/11/2022
The lonely back of the security guard
(Photo by: The MODE)
It is not rare to encounter elderly parking guards wearing their specific uniform - white shirts with black badges on their shoulders, in urban and suburban areas. Despite different backgrounds, they have one thing in common: choosing this career to make ends meet.
Having a conversation with Mr. T., the security guard of the V. apartment complex in Ha Dong district, Ha Noi city, we were allowed to have a deeper insight into the lives of guards like him.
“Half of my day, I spend it here”
According to what he said, a parking guard's shift is normally 12 hours long. The day shift runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the rest of the day is the night shift. It means that he is required to work 12 hours a day to earn 5 million VND a month.
His primary duty is watching everyone entering and exiting the parking lot and ensuring that all vehicles are carded prior to entry. The workload is light overall, but the time constraint is considerable.
Besides, he and his colleagues are penalized between 300.000 and 500.000 VND if they violate the guidelines.
Although the working environment is quite leisurely as it requires neither much physical strength nor exposure to chemicals, it still poses several risks to health.
The workplace lacks natural light and air circulation
(Photo by: The MODE)
Working in the underground parking where natural light can barely reach continuously for 12 hours without any workplace exchange, makes the guards feel fatigued and drowsy. Not to mention, as they have to sit almost all the time, suffering backache is inevitable.
While we were having a conversation with Mr.T, a strange smell sneaked into our noses. As expected, nearby on the left side of his seat lies a stinky rubbish-collecting area.
Garbage is gathered in a room next to where Mr.T. sits
(Photo by: The MODE)
Wishing for a bright day
Being concerned for the security guards’ health, we contacted the manager to find out the reason why they hardly have a chance to exchange the working place but failed to have a clear answer.
Nguyen Van T, sercurity guard of V. apartment complex in Ha Dong district
(Video by: The MODE)
We rushed back to the basement where Mr.T. works and expressed our desire to lend ears to his wishes.
After being hesitant for a minute, he looked at us. A light smile appeared on his face.
He sincerely said: “Having this job, it's a blessing to me. I feel like I am way luckier than a lot of people out there. However, to be honest, I wish I could be allowed to have a more flexible working schedule. I mean, I don't ask for much. Being able to go up there, watching people wandering around under sunlight and breathing fresh air without the nasty smell from the garbage in the middle of work is enough."
The light in the heart
A kid and his mom stopped by and greeted Mr.T
Photo by: the MODE)
Despite working difficulties, Mr. T still expressed his happiness with smiley-looking eyes as he was recalling the time when residents stopped by for a second to send their greetings and wishes. Besides earning adequate money to cover his daily needs, Mr. T takes them as a source of comfort to continue working.
According to Dr. BS NGUYEN NGOC MINH (lecturer of ear - nose - throat department, Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University, HCMC), the Air Quality Index (AQI) assigns a score from 0 to 500 to describe the state of the air. Every tier will provide vital health data and preventative measures for that ailment.
-
Level 1: AQI from 0-50 (good for health).
-
Level 2: AQI from 50-100 (moderate).
-
Level 3: AQI from 100-150 (not good for sensitive groups).
-
Level 4: AQI from 150-200 (harmful to health).
-
Level 5: AQI between 200-300 (very hazardous to health)
-
Level 6: AQI between 300-500 (dangerous), warning people that more serious health effects may be experienced.
More Stories
thanks for writing this
Amazing
such an amazing article
So good!
이 기사는 재독할 만한 가치가 있네
Such a great article!
좋은 기사이네
読みやすいように工夫されてあるほか、内容も充実していてとても良いと思います。
Bài báo giúp mình hiểu thêm về cuộc sống của người bảo vệ, không chỉ đơn giản chỉ là ngồi và quẹt thẻ nữa
The article honestly reflects the characteristics and hidden corners that need more attention on the work of security guards in high-rise buildings. Thanks the writer.