Sun safety for outdoor workers

Find out essential sun protection tips, employer responsibilities and best practices for employees who work outdoors.

In this section:

Employees who work outdoors could be exposed to high, health-harming levels of sun.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause:

Skin cancer

This is caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Find out more about skin cancer from Cancer Research UK.

Sunburn

This painful skin damage increases the risk of long-term issues, such as skin cancer.

Heat stress and dehydration

This can lead to dizziness, fatigue and heat exhaustion.

Eye damage

UV rays can contribute to cataracts and other eye conditions.

Find out more about the health risks of working in the sun in this PDF from the Health and Safety Executive (opens in a new window).

Page last reviewed: 26th March 2025