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Sociology & Social Policy

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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ssp.2025.12.007

Behind the High Efficiency Cost: A Study on the Impact Mechanism of Occupational Injuries for Food Delivery Riders

Boyu Zhang

Xi'an Gaoxin Number 1 High School, International Course Center, Shanxi 710075, Xi'an, China.

*Corresponding author: Boyu Zhang

Published: December 22,2025

Abstract

With the development of the food delivery industry, the problem of occupational injuries to delivery riders has become increasingly prominent. Most existing studies focus on macro labor rights and interests, while insufficient exploration of the micro mechanisms of occupational injuries. This study conducted a questionnaire survey among 146 Chinese food delivery riders and analyzed them using an ordered Logit model. It was found that the complexity of the task and strict delivery time limits significantly increased the frequency of injuries. Further analysis indicates that the gap between working hours and income expectations is a key mediating factor among them. At the same time, a rider's risk perception has a dual function: a moderate level of alertness enhances safety, but excessive anxiety is more likely to lead to mistakes. This study provides micro-evidence for understanding the occupational safety risks under platform employment and puts forward specific suggestions for the platform to optimize order management and ensure the safety of riders.

Keywords

Food delivery riders; Occupational injuries; Platform control; Risk perception; Income expectation gap

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How to cite this paper

Behind the High Efficiency Cost: A Study on the Impact Mechanism of Occupational Injuries for Food Delivery Riders

How to cite this paper: Boyu Zhang. (2025). Behind the High Efficiency Cost: A Study on the Impact Mechanism of Occupational Injuries for Food Delivery Riders. Sociology & Social Policy2(3), 181-190.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ssp.2025.12.007