UV safety at work outdoors: here’s how to protect employees

    The sun on your face, a fresh breeze, the great outdoors… It all sounds wonderfully healthy, but for employees who work outside daily, there also lurks a less visible risk: UV radiation. And that risk is anything but small. In Belgium, 1 in 5 Belgians will develop some form of skin cancer before age 75. However, a large proportion of skin cancers are preventable by properly protecting your workers from UV radiation.

    On this page:

    In Belgium, there are more than 50,000 new cases of skin cancer each year, making it the most common and fastest rising form of cancer in our country. One of the main risk factors for development is chronic exposure to UV radiation.

    How sun-safe are you? 🤔 Test your UV knowledge with our quiz. 💡

    Employees who work outside have twice the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer as people who work indoors. Since 2024, skin cancers caused by long-term exposure to UV radiation in outdoor work have also been recognized by Fedris as an occupational disease. We share the best tips so your employees can work safely.

    The ABCs of UV

    Ultraviolet (UV) radiation always comes from the sun. You probably know about UV-A and UV-B rays, but there are also UV-C rays. Here’s a quick look at everything!

    • UV-A rays do not cause you to burn, but they do cause your skin to age (the “a” stands for ageing). UV-A is harmful to your skin because it penetrates deeper into the skin and you don’t notice it right away. The rays are not filtered by our ozone layer and pass through clouds and glass.

    • UV-B rays are largely blocked by the ozone layer, though, and also cannot pass through glass. Yet they are also harmful to your skin because the “b” stands for burning: your skin burns if you are exposed to them for too long.

    • UV-C rays are filtered through the ozone layer and thus do not cause discomfort down where we are. Or at least not those coming from the sun. Because the rays from UV lamps do contain UV-C light, which is harmful if you come in contact with it for too long.

    3 tips for employee UV safety at work while outdoors

    Tip 1: check the UV index

    In the UV index, you can read how much UV radiation is in the sunlight that reaches the earth. So it has nothing to do with how hot it is. If unprotected, your skin is at risk of damage with a UV index of 3 or higher. You wouldn’t expect it with the March showers, but a UV index of 3 or higher can be measured in Belgium as early as March. You can check the index on several weather apps, such as that of the RMI.

    Tip 2: avoid the sun

    Take several measures. Plural. Because one measure is certainly not enough.

    The best way to protect yourself from the sun’s dangerous effects is to simply avoid the sun. Sun strength is highest in the four hours around the midday sun. For Belgium, this is between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. So make sure your employees are sure to seek shade or can take an extra break inside during these hours.

    Create additional shade in the workplace, for example, with a tent on the workstation, a canopy on the scaffolding, or moving a workstation to a location in the shade. And be extra vigilant with highly reflective substrates, such as white sand, white façades, concrete…

    Do you have employees who work outside for at least two hours a day? Include the risk of UV exposure in your

    In need of advice or expertise?

    Do you need advice or expertise in determining the right prevention measures? Get advice from our prevention advisors or the occupational physician during a medical examination.

    Tip 3: cover up and use sunscreen

    The golden rule with harmful UV radiation is “avoid, cover up, and use sunscreen”. Is it impossible to avoid the sun? Then provide individual protective equipment (PPE) adapted to the working conditions and safety precautions. Combine different measures.

    • Provide UV-protective clothing (UPF 40+, legal European standard) or encourage wearing loose clothing with long sleeves and legs. Use a densely woven fabric, but with good breathability, such as cotton. Dark colors protect against UV better.

    • Wear sunglasses with a UV filter of at least UV400. That corresponds to a CE mark 3, which you can read on the inside of the sunglasses.

    • Protect your face and neck with a wide-brimmed hat or a safety helmet with neck protection (“sun flap”).

    • Put sunscreen with a high protection factor (at least SPF30 to SPF50) on your face and uncovered skin. Apply it at least half an hour before exposure and repeat every two hours. Provide individual tubes or a dispenser (“sunscreen station”) at the workstation.

    ℹ️ The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of sunscreen only shows how strongly you are protected from UV-B rays. So make sure your sunscreen also lists UV-A protection.

    Did you know…

    The sun’s UV radiation:

    • cannot be seen or felt (unlike, e.g. infrared radiation)?
    • has no link to the temperature?
    • is carcinogenic to humans?
    • can be high even on cool days in the fall or spring?
    • penetrates clouds?
    • can reflect off reflective surfaces such as metal, concrete, water, and snow?

    How sun-safe are you? Test your UV knowledge.
    Is UV OK or not OK? Check your knowledge about UV radiation in our quiz!