29 Jun 2020

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, and outdoor workers who naturally spend more time outside, working in the sun, are the biggest victims.

They are at greater risk of getting exposed to UV radiation and developing skin cancers. That said, sun safety is often neglected in the workplace, especially by construction companies. If proper sun safety precautions aren’t followed, workers can suffer from serious health issues. 

Therefore, with the sun right on the horizon, Mallcom have come up with a few tips to help keep users and employees safe and healthy. 

1. Long safety coats and trousers are a must

Taking off the shirt is the biggest temptation when feeling the heat, especially when the sun is right above the head and the day at work has just started. However, users and workers should resist the temptation to avoid sunburn. They must use long safety coats that can cover their skin from head to toe is a must. 

Though that won’t help users feel better, it will drastically minimize the risk of skin cancer and other kinds of damage to the skin. Besides, there are other things users can do to beat the heat. For instance, when the opportunity presents itself, such as on breaks – sit in the shade. Users can remove the long coats while user’re sitting in the shade.

2. Cover the top with hard hats

Construction sites are very risky and are among one of the most dangerous industries globally

Summers or not, construction sites are very risky and are among one of the most dangerous industries globally. Workplace hazards, such as heights and falls, slips and trips, collapses, etc. are very common and workers are at constant risk of getting physically hurt.

While people can recover from injuries in most body parts with proper treatment, injuries to the head and the brain are mostly life-threatening.

Outdoor workers category

If users belong to the ‘outdoor workers’ category of employees, safety hats or helmets should be an inevitable part of the uniform.

There are two reasons why safety headgear is important:

  • Protects user from the sun, and
  • Minimizes the damage the head might incur if it hits something hard.

3. Protective Eyewear

There’s a broad range of protective eyewear, designed as per industry standards and safety regulations

Harmful UV radiations affect not only the skin but also the eyes. Users should always carry two pairs of suitable eye gear, designed specifically to shield the eyes from UV rays and other harmful radiations coming from the sun, along with other safety gear mentioned above.

There’s a broad range of protective eyewear, designed as per industry standards and safety regulations specified by the concerned authorities. Users can choose the best one for themselves to protect their eyes from the sun and its blinding sun radiations.

Applying sunscreen

Apart from the above-listed PPE, there are a few more things outdoor workers or their employers can do to ensure utmost safety at the workplace.

One of the first things to do is apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun, ensure a regular supply of drinking water to keep the workers hydrated, and also provide them with safety gloves to keep them safe from injuries.