During the warm-weather months, it’s important to take precautions to protect yourself and your employees from the hazards of sun exposure while working outside. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight causes premature skin aging, wrinkles, cataracts, and skin cancer. Remember: there are no safe UV rays or suntans.
Here are a few ways to stay safe in the sun:
- Cover up with loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.
- Wear UV-absorbent sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
- Limit exposure by avoiding the most intense UV rays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
These precautions are particularly critical for those who burn easily, spend a lot of time outdoors, have freckles or moles, have fair skin, or have light-colored or red hair. Next week, we’ll discuss tips for working safely outside in high heat and humidity.
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Make it a safe day!
Mike Schofield
President & CEO
