The burning issue

Employers have a legal ‘duty of care’
to assess the risks of working in the
sun and to take preventative action
such as choosing the right protective
equipment and skin care products.

Sunscreen is of paramount
importance for helping to reduce the
risks of damage to the skin. Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) 30 means that
the product will stop 95-97% of UVB
rays and allow 30 times longer in the
sun before burning than without it.

However, it is important that the
product is applied correctly; even on a
cloudy day, 30-50% of the sun’s rays
reach the skin so sunscreen should be
liberally applied every 2-3 hours.

Christine Mottershead, marketing
director at Deb advises: “As Sun Safety
Week approaches, it is important to
look at the needs of outdoor workers.”
Christine suggests: “Organisations
should work with companies who are
experts in skin care to provide a
systemised skin safety solution along
with providing advice and educational
materials based on the HSE’s 6-point
code.”