With the temperature rising, we thought it would be beneficial to share 8 of our top tips for keeping you and your workforce safe in the summer sun.

1. Hydration

It's no secret that water plays a huge part in the day to day function of the human body, with 60% of the body being made up of water. The NHS advise that we drink around 8 glasses of water per day, however, when working outside with heightened physical activity during summer, they advise an increased amount to avoid dehydration.

Signs of dehydration:

• Increased thirst
• Dry mouth
• Tired or sleepy
• Decreased urine output
• Urine is low volume and more yellowish than normal
• Headaches
• Dry skin

High levels of dehydration can lead to dizziness, fevers, confusion and in severe cases, comas or seizures.

Make sure you keep a water bottle to hand throughout the day, drinking consistently, and refilling when you can.

2. Breaks

From March – October, the sun is at its strongest between the hours of 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. If you are able to, ensure that you schedule lunch breaks between these hours to avoid working during the hottest part of the day. Understandably you may be unable to take additional breaks, however, when working during high temperatures, the body exerts itself at a faster rate. Therefore, it is important to try to allow for more frequent and/or longer breaks to make up for this.

3. Shade

When the opportunity presents itself, such as on breaks – sit in the shade

This is an effective and simple way to cool yourself down. If you also notice a shady spot on site, perhaps ask colleagues to alternate positions, so that each of you can feel the benefit of it at some point throughout the day.

4. Keep Your Top On

How many times have you walked past a building site on a hot day and seen the majority of employees with their shirts off? Probably frequently, as removing layers is one of the biggest temptations when feeling the heat. Unfortunately, this is one thing you should be avoiding when trying to keep cool.

The material of your T-shirt acts as a useful barrier between your skin and the sun's harmful rays, therefore taking it off can cause you to suffer from sunburn, peeling and sunstroke. Resist the temptation and keep your top on!

5. Wear a Hat

If you are not required to wear a helmet when working outside, ensure that you are protecting not only your head but the nape of your neck, your face and your ears from the sun with another form of PPE or clothing. This can be achieved by wearing a cap with a longer peak, or even a neck cape to protect the nape of your neck. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat outdoors is also a great way to protect your head, eyes, and skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

6. Sun-cream

Everybody needs sun-cream in order to protect their skin from damaging UV rays, reduce the risk of sun burn, sunstroke and prevent skin cancer or malignant melanoma.

Sun-cream Rules And Benefits:

• Apply every 2 hours
• Wear a high factor of at least 15SPF
• Prevents premature aging
• Lowers skin cancer risks
• Prevents sunburn

Up to 80% of the sun's UV rays can pass through clouds. So even if you are sat in the shade, or if the day becomes overcast – keep applying it frequently.

7. Smoked Safety Spectacles

Some of the sun's effects on the eyes include Cataracts, a clouding of the eyes lens that can blur vision.

Ensure that you wear a smoked safety spectacle that is compatible with your PPE, to avoid any damage to your eyes over an extended period of time.

8. Cooling Accessories

There are many PPE accessories available to help cool you down in the warm weather. We offer a Cooling Sweatband which is compatible with our Evolution® range of safety helmets.

The EVO® Cooling Sweatband for Evolution® Safety Helmets is powered by HyperKewl™ PLUS evaporative cooling material. A unique fabric that absorbs and slowly releases water through evaporation, thereby protecting the wearer against heat stress for up to 10 hours.

To conclude, try putting these 8 steps into practice when working outside to keep yourself safe in the sun!

Sources: HSE – Skin at Work, NHS Choices – Water, Drinks and Your Health