Shade and clothing are the best defenses against the sun, but sunscreen is the next best choice. Workers should use water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher and reapply it every 40 to 80 minutes. Broad spectrum coverage means it passed a test proving it protects against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, both of which can cause skin cancer. Bottles should be readily available, or workers can carry travel bottles, tubes, sticks or pouches to keep the sunscreen on their person.
It doesn’t matter how hot it is outside. The sun can be a danger to workers in any weather. Approximately one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. It’s crucial for workers to protect their skin from potential heat-related illnesses, which can include sunburn or skin cancer, when working outdoors by either covering their skin or wearing protective sunscreen that meets the recommendations laid out by the American Academy of Dermatology.