Marley Eternit's Top 10 Tips for Sun Safety
 |
Based on guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, Marley Eternit is offering the following 'safe in the sun' advice for outdoor workers: |
- Keep your top on. Opt for tightly woven fabrics, which help to form a barrier to the sun's harmful rays.
- Protect your head with a hat. In most cases this will involve wearing a hard hat, but when these are not needed, hats/caps with brims or a flap that cover the ears and the back of the neck can provide shade for the head.
- Use a high factor sunscreen of at least SPF15 on any exposed skin. Apply as directed on the product.
- Take a break in the shade if you can, this will reduce the risk of harming your skin and help keep you cool.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Avoid mild reddening - it is a sign of skin damage and an early sign of burning.
- Don't try to get a tan. It indicates that the skin has been damaged. The risk of skin cancer is linked to prolonged exposure to the sun.
- Continue to take care when you go on holiday as the skin remembers every exposure.
- Don't get complacent, get to know the most vulnerable area of your skin, for example, the back of your neck and head. Keep them covered!
- Check your skin regularly for unusual moles or spots. See a doctor immediately if you find anything changing in shape, size or colour, itching or bleeding.
Employers looking for information to share with outdoor workers about the hazards of sun exposure can obtain details of Health and Safety Executive advice for outdoor workers at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg337.pdf and www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg147.pdf