Lotion launched

Whilst spray sunscreens are still an effective form of protection against harmful UV rays, Deb says they are likely to be applied quickly and often carelessly – therefore not offering an adequate amount of coverage.

Most people apply less than half of the amount of sunscreen required to provide the necessary level of protection. Two thirds of construction workers are outside for seven hours per day, so it is critical that they are sufficiently protected.

The risk of skin cancer for those who work outside is high. According to a recent study by Imperial College London, working outdoors could lead to one death and around five new cases of melanoma skin cancer a week. The study highlighted that construction workers recorded the highest number of deaths (44%), followed by agricultural workers (23%) and public administration and defence workers, including the police and armed forces (10%).

Applying effective products at the right time is crucial to minimising the risk of outdoor workers being diagnosed with skin cancer. Currently, only 59% of all construction employees working outside regularly apply sunscreen. Deb is stressing how crucial it is for all Health & Safety Managers to be aware of which solutions to choose.

For industrial workplaces, it is recommended that either Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or 50 is used. Sunscreens with a lower SPF such as SPF15 can only filter out 93% of incoming UVB rays, whereas SPF30 and SPF50 sunscreens are able to filter out 97% and 98% respectively. Deb’s new Stokoderm Sun Protect 50 PURE is able to reduce UVB absorption into the skin by up to 50% compared with its SPF30.