Protect your workers from the sun
Not only is it a safe practice to protect your workers from the sun, it is also becoming a workers' compensation issue and an area for possible lawsuits. OSHA has cited employers under the standards, 29CFR 1910.132(a) and 1925.28(a), for not providing their workers sun protection.

One out of seven Americans will contract skin cancer in their lifetime. When you are unable to stay out of the sun, you should wear clothing to cover your skin and apply a sunscreen with a SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 to exposed skin. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 means you can stay in the sun 15 times longer than if you wore no sunscreen and achieve the same amount of color. Apply the sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside and every two hours thereafter - reapply more often if you are perspiring a lot. 

The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is not an exact science. Dermatologists tell us an SPF 8 provides about 40 percent protection from UV rays. A 15 jumps to 95 percent, and a 30 goes up to 97 percent. A 45 SPF or greater offers no more than 1 percent additional protection than a 30 SPF, but increases the potential of skin irritation dramatically.

The following are precautions you can take to protect yourself from the sun

• Limit the amount of time you spend in the sun. If you work outside all day, take breaks indoors if possible, or in the shade.
• Use sunscreen lotion on your face, neck, hands, forearms and other unprotected areas of the skin. Be sure to choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater. The SPF will be listed on the label.
• Apply the sunscreen before going out in the sun. It's best to put it on 20 to 30 minutes ahead of time. Reapply it frequently during the day.
• The sun's rays are the strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be especially careful to protect your skin from exposure during those hours.
• Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. When choosing sunglasses, look for a label that indicates they filter at least 90% of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
• If you can't avoid being outdoors in the sun, wear a lightweight, tightly-woven long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Light-colored clothing is a good choice. Gloves are also a good idea. Be sure your clothes are not too tight.
• Wear a hat that shades your ears, face, temples and the back of your neck from the sun. These come in many styles. Among them are wide-brimmed hats, pith helmets, and straw hats with extra wide brims.

Information on protecting yourself from heat stress.

Cooling Workwear

Hard Hats with extra shade

Industrial-grade sunscreens