Summer Has Arrived!

 

I think it is fair to say that summer has officially arrived in the UK and we are loving the weather at Prestige Safety Services HQ but we thought that you might like a bit of information on the Health and Safety considerations of working in hot weather.

 

When working outdoors the effects of the weather can potentially have a serious impacts on an employee’s health if the risks have not been considered or properly managed. This impact may be immediate or it may occur over a long time period.

Working outdoors in the hot weather can have influence on an individual’s effectiveness and this is not just managed using engineering controls. In these circumstances some of the most effective ways of managing workers in the hot weather environments are to introduce some simple administrative controls for example:

  • reschedule work to cooler times of the day
  • provide more frequent rest breaks and introduce shading to rest areas
  • provide free access to cool drinking water
  • introduce shading in areas where individuals are working
  • encourage the removal of personal protective equipment when resting to help encourage heat loss
  • educate workers about recognising the early symptoms of heat stress

 

Working in the sun?

Too much sunlight is harmful to your skin. It can cause skin damage including sunburn, blistering and skin ageing and in the long term can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the UK with over 50,000 new cases every year.
A tan is a sign that the skin has been damaged. The damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight. Make sure you apply suncream to areas of unprotected skin!!!

 

Who is at risk?

If work keeps you outdoors for a long time your skin could be exposed to more sun than is healthy for you. You should take particular care if you have:

  • fair or freckled skin that doesn’t tan, or goes red or burns before it tans
  • red or fair hair and light coloured eyes
  • a large number of moles

If you would like more information on the safety considerations working in hot or cold temperatures then do not hesitate to get in touch.

 

Enjoy the beautiful weather but remember… #staysafe