With record heatwaves taking place, it’s important to make sure that staff have everything they need to avoid the hazards of hot weather. Here are some tips.
Provide adequate sun protection
HSE guidelines state that UV radiation should be considered an occupational hazard for those who work outdoors. Therefore, employers of outdoor workers have a legal duty to safeguard, as far is reasonably practical, their employees from the effects of UV radiation.
Keep plenty of high factor sun cream to hand.
Recent surveys reveal that only one in four outdoor workers reported wearing sun cream at work, with the most common reason for not doing so being that it requires too much effort to apply it regularly.
Sun cream can be stored in larger dispensers located in convenient places around the work site to encourage liberal and frequent use, whilst remaining economical.
Ensure the sun cream is of a high factor and is in date, as suncream does lose effectiveness over time.
Deb Stokoderm Sun Protect Cream is a highly effective SPF50 sunscreen, designed to protect against the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and UVC rays. Ideal to help ensure outdoor workers stay protected. For us with the Deb Sun 1000 Protect Dispenser for a user-friendly, convenient and economical dispensing system.
Smaller tubes are also available for workers on the move
Ensure sun protection advice is displayed around the workplace to encourage use and remind people to keep applying it at regular intervals.
Encourage workers to wear appropriate clothing
It’s also helpful to provide lightweart, loose fitting workwear which is breathable and covers arms and legs. Providing hats is helpful too. We have a hi vis baseball cap, for example which serves to protect against the sun.
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Ensure staff can stay hydrated
Make sure staff have easy access to drinking water and are encouraged to take regular breaks to rehydrate.
Encourage breaks and time out of the heat
In the hot weather it is also important for staff to pace themselves, especially manual labourers or those doing work that requires physical exertion.
Make sure staff have somewhere cool and shady to take time out.
Altering shift times to earlier and later in the day to avoid the midday sun is also a measure that is worth considering in particularly high temperatures.
Make sure that staff are aware of the signs of heat exhaustion
These are key symptoms of heat exhaustion:
a headache
dizziness and confusion
loss of appetite and feeling sick
excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin
cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
fast breathing or pulse
a high temperature of 38C or above
being very thirsty
As always our team are happy to help. Contact us at sales@cisafety.com or call us on 01726 74264