Rank: Forum user 
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Are we legally obliged to supply our operatives with headware to protect them from the sun ? Would this be classed as PPE ?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Yes, if are telling your staff to work out in the Sun you must manage the risk from any hazards including the hot sun. Overexposure to UV is a killer. PPE such as sun hats should be a last resort but if you can’t come up with anything better then PPE it is.
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 1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Not just headwear but also other clothing, but check that it has a suitable UV protection factor. Some clothing can actually increase the effect of UV on the skin. Under present conditions a minimum of factor 50 and 5 star UVA rating, as this is necessary to protect against the free radicals that can cause squamous cell carcinoma.
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1 user thanked chris.packham for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Then you get in to the arguments regarding long sleeves / long trousers versus shorts & T-shirts.
A robust uniform policy is required. Ideally they ought to be slapping on the sun cream however you need to be careful as most contain some form of preservative which may or may not induce an allergic reaction in individual employees. Can the working hours be adjusted to avoid the hottest part of the day i.e. a siesta period? Plenty of rest periods and free water.
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Then you get in to the arguments regarding long sleeves / long trousers versus shorts & T-shirts.
A robust uniform policy is required. Ideally they ought to be slapping on the sun cream however you need to be careful as most contain some form of preservative which may or may not induce an allergic reaction in individual employees. Can the working hours be adjusted to avoid the hottest part of the day i.e. a siesta period? Plenty of rest periods and free water.
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2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I have concerns about sun cream. Firstly, how effective are they? I have a study that shows how with some the protection afforded diminishes quite rapidly following application. Secondly, will they apply sufficient? Thirdly, if you are going to use a sun protection cream go for the ones that rely on physical protection, i.e. titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as opposed to those that rely purely on chemicals. Some of these can actually cause photosensitsation, i.e. over time with some people the opposite effect to that required!
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1 user thanked chris.packham for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Remember that the 'factor' on sun cream only applies to UVB. This is the wavelengths that cause early sunburn and are the major cause of melanomas. However. UVA can also cause melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It is also the wavelength that cause skin damage leading to wrinkling and solar keratoses. For UVA look for the 5 star rating on the cream.
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1 user thanked chris.packham for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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Just like DSE another area long overdue review - very surprised not to have seen a "what's the maximum working temperature?" yet.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Just like DSE another area long overdue review - very surprised not to have seen a "what's the maximum working temperature?" yet.
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Rank: Super forum user
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From the information I have SPF15 is far too low for safety. In his presentation two years ago at the OEESC conference in Dublin Prof. Diepgen showed how a factor of SPF50 (with a minimum 4 start UVA rating) was needed to prevent the accumulation of free radicals in the skin that could encourage the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We don't appear to have any statistics on SCC in the U.K. but in the USA it seems that it results in twice as many fatalities as the Melanomas.
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