Sun exposure toolbox talk
Read it out at the pre-start or a toolbox meeting, talk through the questions, and have everyone sign on. It's built from our sun exposure page and the 122 SafetyDocs templates that cover it.
- Site
- Date
- Presented by
What it is
Direct sunlight and solar UV radiation on outdoor workers, causing sunburn, eye damage, skin cancer and added heat load.
Controls to check, most effective first
- Schedule outdoor work to avoid the middle of the day, when UV levels are highest, where possible.
- Provide shade over fixed work areas and rest areas using shade cloth, canopies or temporary structures.
- Check the daily sun protection times, and use sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above.
- Provide broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a high SPF, and remind workers to reapply it at least every two hours.
- Wear sun-protective clothing with long sleeves and a collar, a broad-brimmed hat or hard-hat brim, and sunglasses.
- Encourage workers to check their skin regularly and see a doctor about any new or changing spots.
Questions for the crew
- Where could sun exposure come up on this job today?
- The most effective control is: “Schedule outdoor work to avoid the middle of the day, when UV levels are highest, where possible”. Can we do that here? If not, why not?
- Which controls for sun exposure are missing or not working on this site?
- When would you stop work because of sun exposure, and who would you tell?
- How do we report a hazard, a near miss or an incident on this job?
Sign-on record
Everyone who attended signs below. Keep it with your toolbox talk records.
| Name | Company | Signature |
|---|---|---|
A starting point for a talk, not a SWMS or a risk assessment. Add what's particular to your site and crew.