It’s summer. It’s hot, and staying out of the sun’s glare is a priority. If you have to work with the sun’s rays shining on you, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has compiled a thorough overview of sun exposure and how to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. Click here to read all the information.
Employers can protect their workers from sun exposure by scheduling work hours during lower-risk times, providing shade or indoor break areas and training their employees on how to protect themselves. Employees can protect themselves by being informed.
Did you know?
- Sunlight exposure is highest during the summer from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Reflections from light-colored flooring, sand, sheet metal and other materials increase your risk for sun exposure from above and below. Be sure to look around.
- You’re at risk of UV radiation exposure even on cloudy days.
- Many drugs increase sensitivity to sunlight. Click here for a list of some examples, but check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if one of your medications may increase your sensitivity to sunlight.
- The higher the SPF number in sunscreen, the more it will protect you from the sun. Application every 20-30 minutes is suggested, but skin tone, sweat, environmental elements and bug repellent can play a factor in sunscreen’s effectiveness and it may need to be more frequently applied.
- Sunscreen expires! Throw away any unused sunscreen after 1-2 years (or the date on the package), as it loses its effectiveness.
- Appropriate clothing with a high SPF rating, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats can provide excellent protection from the sun.
- Sunburns can appear four hours after sun exposure, worsen in the following 24 to 36 hours and resolve in three to five days.
Toolbox Talks
In addition to protecting yourself from the sun, working in the heat brings on higher risk for injury. Refresh your memory on how to protect yourself while working in the heat with the Toolbox Talk on extreme climates (p. 215-218, available in English and Spanish) in the Toolbox Talks pdf, available on the SMOHIT website.