Safety Advice for Employees: Working in the Sun and Heat

Extreme heat is both an environmental and occupational hazard, whilst significant exposure to UV radiation in sunlight can damage skin and cause skin cancer. If your work involves exposure to high levels of heat and/or you work outside, then your employer should risk assess these factors.

Heat and UV exposure are occupational hazards, not inconveniences to work through. The measures above, from sun safety to vehicle checks, exist to prevent heat stress, skin damage and the more serious risks of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Employers have a responsibility to risk assess where heat and sun exposure are part of the job, and employees have a responsibility to follow the guidance and report symptoms early. Left unmanaged, heat stress can escalate quickly and the consequences can be severe. Taking these precautions seriously protects health both on and off the job.