Sun Awareness Week 2022

721 days ago

Working in the Sun Safely!

If your work keeps you outdoors for a long time you need to prevent heat-related illnesses such as sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Below is some guidance and tips on how to prevent this.

What can you do to protect yourself?

  • Keep your top on – wear proper sun-protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
  • KEEP YOUR PPE ON – HARD HATS AND HI-VIS JACKETS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES (as outlined in risk assessments)
  • Stay in the shade whenever possible, during your breaks and especially at lunchtime.
  • If it is safe to do so and it isn’t breaching any site rules or risk assessment requirements, you can remove personal protective equipment during breaks to help encourage heat loss.
  • Use suncream (apply 20-30 minutes before going outside) on any exposed skin. You should take particular care if you have fair or freckled skin that doesn’t tan, or goes red or burns before it tans; red or fair hair and light coloured eyes and a large number of moles.
  • Drink plenty of water or cool beverages to avoid dehydration. When working hard in heat stress conditions employees should consume around 250 ml (half a pint) every 15 minutes or 500 ml (a pint) every 30 minutes.
  • Check your skin regularly for any unusual moles or spots. See a doctor promptly if you find anything that is changing in shape, size or colour, itching or bleeding.
  • Keep an eye out for the early symptoms of heat stress and closely monitor and check on co-workers for signs of heat illness. Typical symptoms are:
    1. Unable to concentrate;
    2. Muscle cramps;
    3. Heat rash;
    4. Severe thirst - a late symptom of heat stress;
    5. Fainting;
    6. Heat exhaustion - fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin;
    7. Heatstroke - hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness.
    8. If in doubt call 999 for help.

Report any concerns to your supervisor or line manager.

 

Further information can be found on the following links below:

Keep your top on (hse.gov.uk)

Free Leaflet - Sun protection, advice for employers of outdoor workers (hse.gov.uk)

Heat stress - Temperature - HSE

Dehydration (hse.gov.uk)

Temperature - Outdoor working - HSE 

Sun, UV and cancer | Cancer Research UK

Article submitted by: Health & Wellbeing / Health & Safety

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