SPOTLIGHT
OUTDOOR WORKERS - STAYING SAFE IN THE SUN
Roofers, construction workers and gardeners all spend the majority of
their working day in the light of a silent threat to the health of their
skin. Without adequate UV protection, they put themselves at risk.
A
ccording to a recent study by Imperial College
London, working outdoors could lead to one
death and around five new cases of melanoma
skin cancer a week 1 . The findings from the study were
hardly surprising, given that IOSH’s No Time To Lose Solar
campaign revealed that despite working outside for up to
seven hours a day, only 59% of construction employees
regularly applied sunscreen 2 .
UNDERSTANDING THE THREATS
UV light is invisible with three distinct types: UVA, UVB
and UVC. Often, there are misconceptions regarding
when protection from UV rays is required, which can
make compliance problematic. UV rays are not affected by
sunlight or temperature and can’t be seen or felt, meaning
outdoor workers are often unaware that they are at risk.
Interestingly, it has also been suggested that UVB
wavelengths can be beneficial to employees if exposure
is minimal and controlled. They can kick off the chemical
and metabolic chain reaction that produces Vitamin
D. According to Professor Andrew Wright, Consultant
Dermatologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, “15-20 minutes of unprotected sun
exposure, without skin reddening or burning, per day
should be sufficient for most people to produce the
required Vitamin D level 3 .” It is crucial that Health &
Safety Managers are able to establish when UV protection
is necessary, and for this to be effectively conveyed to
employees.
DUTY OF CARE
Employers have a duty of care to protect their employees
from hazards in the workplace and according to Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines, UV radiation should be
considered an occupational hazard for people who work
outdoors. However, many employers are failing to meet
this responsibility, as a study which IOSH conducted in
conjunction with the University of Nottingham revealed that
70% of employees claimed that they had never received
training on the risks of working outside 4 . It is a problem
which is becoming increasingly prevalent, and one in which
Health & Safety Managers must help to solve.
The key to combatting skin damage and even skin cancer
for outdoor workers is by changing their attitudes towards
skin protection through education and training, whilst also
providing employees with effective solutions.
EFFECTIVELY PROTECTING WORKERS
When it comes to choosing an effective solution for
outdoor workers, it is crucial that Health & Safety Managers
choose a ‘broad spectrum’ sunscreen which provides
protection against UVA, UVB and UVC rays.
With regards to application, for the average sized adult,
it is recommended that employees apply at least one
teaspoon of sunscreen to each arm, leg, front of body, back
of body and face (including ears and neck) 5 . Where possible,
it should be applied to clean, dry skin 15 minutes before
the initial exposure, and reapplied liberally every two to
three hours. For industrial workplaces, it is also crucial that
the sunscreen chosen is both water and sweat-resistant, to
ensure that they remain protected at work. Additionally, it
is important for sunscreen to offer quick skin absorption
to ensure that the hand dexterity with tools isn’t negatively
impacted.
For outdoor workers who spend the majority of their day
outside, it is also recommended that a high Sun Protection
Factor (SPF) is used – either minimum SPF30 or SPF50
is advised. Sunscreens with a lower SPF such as SPF15
will only be able to filter out 93% of incoming UVB rays,
whereas SPF30 and SPF50 sunscreens are able to filter out
97% and 98% of all incoming rays respectively 6 .
Help and guidance in incorporating UV protection in
workplaces is widely available. It is advised that companies
conduct a detailed internal risk assessment first, and then
implement protection methods. Ideally, these aspects
should be formalised into a fully-fledged Sun Protection
Policy.
Through implementing employee training and
introducing sunscreen dispensers, employers can ensure
that workplaces contain more informed employees; who
are happier and healthier with a minimised risk of being
diagnosed with skin cancer.
Imperial College London
IOSH No Time to Lose Campaign
3
Professor Andrew Wright, Consultant Dermatologist at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
4
IOSH
5
British Association of Dermatology
6
Skincancer.org
1
2
12
HSE INTERNATIONAL