An employer no doubt has a duty of care in relation to the prevention of sun burn, or the prevention of it. The HSE INDG147 leaflet talks about the use of a high factor sunscreen, of at least factor SPF 15 on exposed skin, but should the employee be providing this themselves, or the employer?

Employer, if the job requires the worker to be outside, ie gardener, refuse collector, farm labourer etc (same for decent waterproofs). The RA should identify sun-induced skin cancer as a significant risk. But if work outside is an occasional activity - teacher on a field trip, care worker taking a client out for a walk - I think it's reasonable for the worker to provide, because overall, it's not a significant risk. Ian

I would be careful with supplying sun cream as there are many factors (cream factors) and also lots of skin types ref. allergies etc. I promote the use of suncream, give advice, but we do not supply it due to the many types and variations of creams. Regards Shaun

In the first place most sun protection creams do not present greater hazards to the skin than most moisturising creams and other cosmetic products. However, performance does vary widely. Be aware that the protection factor only relates to UVB and not to UVA. UVA can also contribute to skin cancer and is the wavelength spectrum that causes premature skin ageing. For UVA there is a different star rating. Excellent advice can be obtained from the charity set up to help prevent skin cancer, SKCIN. (I have no involvement in the charity but have found them most helpful). In my view, having considered the evidence in considerable depth I would not recommend a product with less than a factor 25 for UVB and fiver star rating for UVA Chris

I am not disagreeing with what has been posted here as this is not my area of work and I am sure you guys are right, but I cannot help but think that it is a little OTT when an employer is liable to supply sun screen. How about sun glasses? a knotted handkerchief? a baseball cap? I am rather susceptible to hay fever from plane trees pollen. I only ever come into contact with dust from these trees when at work as the surrounding streets are full of them. So can I get anti histamines from my employer? Where does liability stop and common sense take over?

cover-up should be the number 1 priority and get managers to manage and enforce cover-up additionally plan work properly so as direct exposure to sun light is avoided e.g. look at early and late working as an example as much as possible. Its easy today re cover-up as there are many many PPE type products available out there to help the cover-up polcvy Why can hot countries manage the sun and we cannot???? I have worked all over in my time and never got sun burn and did a full days work yet its only back here that there are problems; typicial

This issue is being taken seriously in Liverpool please find attached a link to further information and a tool kit for employers to use, Liverpool Public Health are aware that this information will be shared on this forum and are happy for employers and fellow H&S professionals to use them. http://www.healthatworkc...and-Skin-Cancer-n72.html