Outdoor workers and solar UV radiation — one of the most common workplace carcinogens
Workers who spend time outdoors are exposed to far more ultraviolet (UV) radiation than indoor workers, and a WorkSafe report found solar UV is the second most common carcinogen in New Zealand workplaces. You cannot see or feel it, and the damage builds up over years. The HSWA requires you to manage the risk so far as is reasonably practicable: reschedule and shade work first, then provide SunSmart clothing, hats, sunglasses and SPF50 sunscreen.
UV radiation from the sun damages the DNA in skin cells, and over years of exposure that can lead to skin cancers, some of which are fatal if not found and treated early. UV cannot be seen or felt, so workers can be over-exposed without realising it.
The risk peaks in New Zealand from September to April and in the middle of the day (around 10am to 4pm), but reflective surfaces like concrete, metal, water and snow raise exposure year round. The risk often comes alongside heat — see working in heat & heat stress.
Under the HSWA, where sun exposure is a risk you must manage it so far as is reasonably practicable. The risk cannot be fully eliminated outdoors, so it must be minimised. Use the UV index (UVI) to decide when protection is needed: at UVI 3 or above, protection is required. Free tools such as the UVNZ app let you check the UVI for your region through the day, even when it is cloudy or cold.
Work down the hierarchy. The most effective approach combines several controls, not sunscreen alone.
| Level | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Eliminate / reschedule | Move tasks indoors where possible, or shift outdoor work to early morning or late afternoon when UV is lower. |
| Engineer (shade) | Natural or built shade, canopies and UPF-rated structures; good shade cuts UV by more than 75%. Shade break areas too. |
| Administrative | A SunSmart policy, rotating outdoor tasks, checking the UVI, training, and a sun-safety prompt at the start of the day. |
| PPE | Sun-protective clothing, a broad-brim hat or a brim and neck flap on a helmet, wrap-around sunglasses to standard, and broad-spectrum SPF50 water-resistant sunscreen. |
Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap is the simple SunSmart message to reinforce with workers.
Record your UV risk assessment and SunSmart policy, keep sunscreen in date and out of hot vehicles, and consider skin and mole checks as part of a health monitoring programme for workers with high cumulative exposure.
Capture your sun and UV risks and keep your controls in one place. Book a demo and we'll show you how it works — free 30-day trial included.
Yes. A WorkSafe report found solar UV is the second most common carcinogen in New Zealand workplaces, and outdoor workers can receive up to ten times the UV of indoor workers. Under the HSWA you must manage the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.
Once the UV index reaches 3 or above. In New Zealand that is common from September to April and through the middle of the day, and year round near reflective surfaces like concrete, water and snow.
A combination, led by rescheduling and shade rather than sunscreen alone. Good shade can cut UV by more than 75%, and PPE such as clothing, hats, sunglasses and SPF50 sunscreen backs that up.
Yes. UV cannot be seen or felt and can be high even when it is cloudy or cool, which is why you check the UV index rather than relying on how it feels.
Usually not. Sunscreen is the lowest-order control. You should first reschedule and shade work and use clothing and hats, with broad-spectrum SPF50 sunscreen as a backup.
