For many, the summer months mean relaxing on the beach, lounging by the pool and spending more time in the sun. For builders, summer means long hours of work in the hot sun. All that time in the sun can lead to an increased risk of sunburn, sun poisoning, and skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US, and approximately 1 million people are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer each year. The three main types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, are mainly caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sun exposure.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common types of skin cancer and tend to remain localized. Melanoma is the least common of the three, but also the most deadly of the three. Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that can quickly spread to other parts of the body and can be fatal if not treated early.
The two types of UV rays that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere are UV-A and UV-B. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer, with UVB rays considered to be the main cause of most skin cancers. UV rays are stronger during the spring and summer months. Construction workers must take extra precautions to protect themselves when working outdoors to limit exposure to the sun and UV radiation.
Sun protection clothing
The clothing a builder wears is an important part of protecting your skin from UV rays. Clothing is the best form of sun protection, but not all clothing provides the same level of UV protection. Several factors such as material, weave, and color affect the amount of UV radiation a material blocks. Long-sleeved shirts and trousers in darker-coloured heavy fabrics offer the best UV protection.
There are also options for clothing with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), which provides excellent protection and is usually made from lightweight fabrics and treated with sunscreen chemicals or special dyes to block UV radiation. Choose clothing with UPF 50 or higher for the best protection that only lets 1/50 of the sun's UV rays through to your skin. In comparison, a thin white cotton T-shirt has a UPF of around 5.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is a great way to protect your face, ears, and neck from the sun. If you wear a helmet most of the day, there are accessories you can wear over or under your helmet to protect your wide brim or neck from the sun.
Sunglasses or goggles that offer both UVB and UVA protection should be worn every time you are in the sun. Be sure to choose a pair that fits comfortably and provides 99-100% UV protection.
Wear plenty of sunscreen
Using sunscreen is an important part of protecting builders from UV rays. You want to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides both UVB and UVA protection. The sun protection factor (SPF) is also important to consider when choosing the right sunscreen. SPF measures the degree of protection against UV radiation.
Sunscreen with SPF 30 protects against UVB rays 30 times longer than unprotected skin before it starts reddening. So, if your unprotected skin starts to turn red after 10 minutes, skin covered in SPF 30 sunscreen will protect your skin for 300 minutes. SPF also determines how much UVB radiation is blocked when worn. Sunscreen with SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97%.
Builders should also consider choosing a waterproof sunscreen. Waterproof sunscreen is designed for 40 or 80 minutes. Builders should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that is water resistant for 80 minutes.
Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin at least 20 minutes before going outside. Remember to reapply at least every two hours. Reapply more frequently on high UV days. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations to make sure you're applying enough sunscreen to adequately protect your skin.
Stay in the shadows
Installing temporary shading is a good way to protect builders from sun exposure. Limiting UV exposure during the busiest times of the day, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, is not always easy, depending on the type of work being done. At the very least, employers should have a tent or other shaded area for workers to use during breaks and meals.
Sun exposure is a workplace hazard that is often overlooked or given less attention by employers due to the more deadly hazards present in the workplace. Ensuring construction workers are aware of the dangers of UV radiation and educating them on the different forms of sun protection they should use can go a long way in preventing painful sunburns and the possibility of skin cancer while protecting workers.
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