One of the primary causes of skin cancer is ultra-violet (UV) light exposure. It is important to draw the distinction between sunshine and ultraviolet light; although UV exposure comes mainly from natural sunlight, some exposure still occurs when it is cloudy as UV rays can pass through cloud. UV exposure can also come from sunbeds (users and operators) as well as some chemicals and ionising radiation.
What are the risks?
If work keeps your employees outdoors for a long time, their skin could be exposed to more UV than is healthy for them. This is particularly the case for those with fair or freckled skin that doesn’t tan, or goes red or burns before it tans, and also persons with red or fair hair, or light-coloured eyes, or a large number of moles.
How can employers minimise the risks?
Employers should plan work so that UV exposure is minimised; working on the side of the building where shade falls is one approach. But, where work in direct sunlight is required, your employees need to know that they should, wherever possible:
- keep clothing on to cover skin
- for tasks where hard hats aren’t required, wear a hat with a brim or a flap that covers the ears and the back of the neck
- stay in the shade whenever possible, during your breaks and especially at lunch time
- use a high factor sunscreen on any exposed skin
- drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration
- check skin regularly for any unusual moles or spots and to see a doctor promptly if they find anything that is changing in shape, size or colour, itching or bleeding
If this alert has raised questions or you need to discuss any other health & safety related issue do not hesitate to contact Kingfisher for advice.