According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers have a responsibility to ensure employees are provided a safe working environment. Addressing sun safety is an essential part of this. When it comes to health in the workplace, prevention is far better than the cure.

The most effective way for employers to protect employees from contracting skin cancer is to provide sun safety measures in the workplace. Implementing a comprehensive sun protection program can prevent sun-related injuries and reduce the suffering and costs associated with skin cancer.  Look to have employees spend some time in the shade, away from direct sunlight, wear protective clothing, and apply sunscreen routinely, while working outdoors. 

Millions of U.S. workers are exposed to heat in their workplaces. Although illness from exposure to heat is preventable, every year thousands become sick from occupational heat exposure, and some cases are fatal. Most outdoor fatalities (50% to 70%) occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time – this process is called acclimatization.

Occupational risk factors for heat illness include heavy physical activity, warm or hot environmental conditions, lack of acclimatization, and wearing clothing that holds in body heat. Hazardous heat exposure can occur indoors or outdoors, and can occur during any season if the conditions are right, not only during heat waves.   Employees that work outdoors in warm weather, work near heat sources such as ovens, fires, or hot tar, perform strenuous physical activity, and/or wear heavy or non-breathable work clothes have a greater risk of heat related illness. 

Several heat-related illnesses can affect workers. Some of their symptoms include:

Heat stroke – Confusion, slurred speech, unconsciousness, seizures, heavy sweating or hot, dry skin. Very high body temperature

Heat exhaustion - Fatigue, irritability, thirst, nausea or vomiting, dizziness or lightheadedness, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature or fast heart rate

Heat cramps -   Muscle spasms or pain. Usually in legs, arms, or trunk

Sunburn - Painful, red and warm skin. Blisters on skin

Heat rash - Clusters of red bumps on skin.  Often appears on neck, upper chest, and skin folds

The best engineering controls to prevent heat-related illness is to make the work environment cooler and to reduce manual workload with mechanization.   Installing air conditioning in certain areas such as break rooms could prevent heat-related illness.  Cooling fans and increased overall ventilation could assist employees to cool-down.    Usage of mechanical equipment to replace manual labor could decrease the chance of heat-related illness.

Some worksites cannot be cooled by engineering controls. At those locations, employers should modify work practices when heat stress is too high to work safely. Modifying work schedules and activities for workers who are new to warm environments will reduce heat stress.  Requiring mandatory rest breaks in a cooler environment and scheduling work at a cooler time of the day if possible could avoid heat-related illness.  Rotate job functions between workers to minimize exertion and heat exposure.   Ensure that workers drink an adequate amount of water or electrolyte-containing fluids and avoid drinking hot beverages during lunch and afternoon breaks.

The key to the prevention of worker illness due to excessive sun and heat exposure is to provide a safe working environment which is continuously monitored for worker safety.