Sun Protection & UV
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and outdoor workers get much more sun exposure than most people. UV damage adds up over a career.
- Construction
- Outdoor Work
Photo: worker with a hard hat brim and neck shade, long sleeves and UV-blocking safety glasses
Why outdoor workers are at risk
- Hours of exposure every day, often during the peak UV hours
- Reflection from concrete, water, sand, snow and metal roofing adds to direct sun
- Clouds don’t block most UV. You can burn on an overcast day.
- Sweat washes sunscreen off, and PPE leaves the neck, ears and face exposed
- Some medicines (certain antibiotics, acne and blood pressure drugs) and chemicals like coal tar pitch make skin burn faster
The UV Index
| UV Index | Risk | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Low | Sunglasses; sunscreen if you burn easily or are near snow or water |
| 3–5 | Moderate | Cover up, sunscreen, shade at midday |
| 6–7 | High | Full protection; reduce time in direct sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| 8–10 | Very high | Extra precautions; unprotected skin can burn quickly |
| 11+ | Extreme | Take all precautions; unprotected skin can burn in minutes |
Protect yourself
- Wear lightweight long sleeves and pants; some work clothing is UPF-rated.
- Add a full-brim hard hat or a neck shade attachment.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin; reapply every 2 hours and after sweating.
- Wear UV-protective safety glasses (most Z87 lenses block UV; tinted for bright sun).
- Take breaks in shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV is strongest.
- Check the UV Index in weather apps.
- Use enough sunscreen: about a shot glass full for your whole body, or a teaspoon for face, ears and neck. Don’t forget ears, the back of the neck and the backs of your hands.
- Use lip balm with SPF.
What employers can do
- Provide shade structures, pop-up canopies or umbrellas at break areas and fixed work stations
- Schedule the heaviest outdoor work early or late when possible
- Supply sunscreen, neck shades, brims and UV-rated glasses
- Allow long-sleeve lightweight shirts, and consider UPF-rated work shirts
- Include sun safety in toolbox talks during summer
Check your skin
See a doctor about spots that are new, changing, bleeding, or look different from your other moles. Remember the ABCDEs: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving.
Skin cancers that are found early are usually very treatable. If you’ve worked outside for years, ask your doctor about regular skin checks. Your eyes are at risk too: years of UV raise the risk of cataracts.
Sun and heat go together. See Heat Illness Prevention.
Standards & references
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