Outdoor work exposes employees to sunlight and UV exposure, which can result in health complications. In the short term, workers may experience sunburns, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke, while long-term exposure increases the risk of skin cancer.
Direct sunlight isn’t the only threat. UV light reflects off surfaces such as water, concrete, and metal, increasing an individual's total exposure. Combining some simple sun safety tips with cooling gear for construction workers mitigates the risk of heat-related illness.
Sun protection tips
Sun safety tips are generally commonsense advice that sometimes gets forgotten in the hustle and bustle of an outdoor worksite. The most efficient tips include:
-
Providing employees with sun protective gear, including neck sun protectors, sunglasses, and construction sun hats that shade the face, ears, and neck.
-
Applying and periodically reapplying a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher to exposed skin.
-
Scheduling frequent shade breaks, during which employees can rehydrate and reapply sunscreen. Providing water bottles encourages rehydration.
-
Covering reflective surfaces to decrease UV exposure.
-
Scheduling work for cooler parts of the day, such as dawn or dusk. If work must be done during the heat of the day, rotate employees out of the heat regularly.
Educating your workers on the risks of sun exposure also helps. Teach them to identify the signs of heat stress, and encourage them to monitor each other’s shade and hydration breaks. Emphasize that “toughing it out” is less likely to prove how strong a person is and more likely to wind up with them requiring hospitalization (the urge to power through the heat can be a problem in workforces with a macho mindset).
Examples of sun protection gear
Sun protection clothing covers a wide range of garments, from reflective safety gear to smart-looking polo shirts with built-in UV resistance.
Reflective sun protection gear
Reflective sun protection gear is intended for locations where visibility is a concern. Even on a clear day, workers in environments such as construction sites, parking lots, and roadside sites must wear an appropriate level of reflective gear. Examples include:
- The Hi-Vis Long Sleeve Polo Shirt by Portwest is an ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Type R Class 3 shirt with a 35+ UPF rated fabric to block 97% of UV rays.
- The Class 2 Safety Long Sleeve Polo - Hi-Vis Green by Radians wicks away moisture to keep the wearer cool in hot environments and is made with an arid Birdseye Mesh for maximum breathability.
- The Boundary by Tri-Mountain meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 Standards, Class 2/Level 2 and features Tri-Mountain UltraCool® moisture wicking technology.
Casual wear sun protection clothing
Not all outdoor employees need reflective gear. For staff working outdoor kiosks, tour guides, and salespeople who need to be outside, a customized UV resistant polo shirt may be sufficient. Such shirts also make excellent branded gifts to give to clients, customers, and employees.
Neck sun protectors
Neck sun protectors or gaiters are tubes of clothing worn around the neck and lower face to keep the neck warm or cool. In the summer, neck sun protectors wick moisture away from the neck and face while providing UV protection. A neck gaiter can also act as a windstopper and dries quickly when wet. They protect the face to some degree from dust or debris, but this is to keep the person’s face clean, and not to prevent breathing in dust. Examples of neck sun protectors include
The best sun protection hats
Sun protection hats come in many forms, from the classic sunhat to specially designed hard hats. Keep your crew cool and protected from the sun with the best sun protection hats we have to offer:
The best sunscreen for construction workers
Sunscreen protects against harmful UVB rays, which cause sunburns and can lead to skin cancer. The best sunscreen for construction workers has an SPF of 30 or more. SPF 30 protects skin for thirty times longer than unprotected skin. If UVB exposure were to cause skin to turn red in ten minutes, skin protected with an SPF30 sunscreen could withstand 300 minutes of sun exposure before reddening.
Sunscreen for construction workers should be water resistant, to reduce loss of protection due to rain or sweat. Sunscreen should be reapplied every forty to eighty minutes to remain effective.
Some of the best sunscreen for construction workers include
Cooling gear for construction workers is, by its nature, worn in public places, providing an opportunity for you to increase brand awareness.
Customizing your sun protection gear and clothing with embroidered logos gives your work team a smart, professional look while keeping them as cool and protected as possible.