There is nothing better than being outside on a sunny day. In fact, for those of us whose job is mainly outdoors – they might be some of the best days of the year. But like so many things in life, there are a few inherent dangers to be aware of for your workforce. In particular, overexposure to the sun and harmful UV rays.

Every day, an average of five people get skin cancer from workplace exposure… your people won’t. Because at Greenham, your employee’s wellbeing is our priority.

The Health and Safety at Work Act, states that every employer has a legal duty to safeguard, as far as is reasonably practical, the health of their employees. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, UV radiation should be considered an occupational hazard for those who work outdoors. However, 1 in 3 health and safety professionals stated that their organisation did not provide any UV protection to outdoor workers.

With our Wellbeing Through Safety® Initiative, we have worked collaboratively with suppliers such as SC Johnson Professional® and Pulsar to give you access to the products you need to help keep those harmful UV rays away, keep your business compliant and improve your overall employee wellbeing.

Alan Murray, Chief Executive Officer at the British Safety Industry Federation has stated:

“The research carried out by SC Johnson Professional ® clearly shows that more awareness and training is needed when it comes to UV protection at work here in the UK – both for H&S professionals and people that work outside. Employers have a duty of care to provide UV protection to their workforce, and the best way to ensure this is implemented is via health and safety professionals.

Along with skincare provision, other forms of protective clothing and methods of working, it is crucial that we provide good quality training and information to health and safety professionals, so they are fully equipped to train employees and to raise awareness more generally.”

SC Johnson Professional ® range of skin and sun protection products includes water-resistant SPF50 sunscreen for professional use to protect the skin against the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and UBC rays. It absorbs quickly and easily into the skin and is perfume free. To make things even easier for your business, the range also includes the Sun PROTECT Skin Safety Centre Board. This will help protect your workforce from UV radiation by raising awareness of the dangers of working in the sun. It is also pre-assembled with: 1-litre lockable dispenser, a mirror for easy application,  a colour wheel to display the daily local UV index level, and key facts and statistics on skin cancer and instructions of WHY, HOW and WHEN outdoor workers need to protect themselves from the sun.

You can download our Sun Protection Guide for outdoor workers here. Download Now.

Another key bit of advice for when you are working in the sun, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), is that no matter how warm it gets, to make sure you keep your top on at all times in order to minimise the amount of sun hitting the skin directly.

Pulsar have a range of Polo shirts where the fabric is certified to Solar Protection Factor rating 50+ ensuring total protection from harmful UV rays. The knitted collar and cuffs with contrast tipping give the polo shirts a professional look and the fabric has added moisture-wicking treatment and underarm mesh ventilation which improves comfort when working in high temperatures.

Sunscreen and keeping covered isn’t the only way to protect yourself and your skin, there are many ways to protect yourself whilst working in direct sunlight. It may sound obvious but advice such as keeping hydrated, making sure you spend as much time in the shade as possible – will all help reduce the risks that working in the sun can carry.

You should also encourage your employees to check their skin regularly, to look for changes to moles or unusual marks that have lasted more than a few weeks.  If detected or unsure then they should contact their doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer can save lives.

Learn more about the UV Ray protection you can give your business from our Wellbeing Through Safety Initiative www.greenham.com/Wellbeing-UV-Protection

Disclaimer: The information provided through Greenham Pulse is for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Greenham Pulse is not a substitute for Health and Safety consultancy. You should seek independent advice about any legal matter.