If you work outdoors in Spain, as well as being offered protection in the highest temperatures where you will not have to work, during the normal summer period sunscreen and insect repellent is considered to be personal protective equipment (PPE0 in some cases, and therefore up to the employer to provide.
There are activities in which the risk of exposure to solar radiation and the bite of certain insects will pose a risk more associated with our work. This occurs in those that are carried out outdoors or in venues that are not totally isolated from the outside. And even those that require workers to be alternating indoor and outdoor jobs throughout the day, such as warehouse staff, for example.
These risks, although eventual because they are located at certain times of the year, such as summer, must be reflected in the Risk Assessments. And, as risks that they are, they must be associated with the corresponding measures.
In the worst case, when all possible resources have been used and, even so, said risk continues to exist, is when we should claim sun cream and insect repellent.
They are considered PPE for protecting individually against certain risks, but they have the particularity that these elements will not require the CE marking.
In the first place, if we are exposed to solar radiation due to our work, the protective cream must be used in combination with other elements, such as caps, sunglasses, photo-protective work clothes.
Secondly, we have to pay attention to the fact that, even if they do not have the CE marking, they must meet some conditions:
- Resistant to water and sweat.
- Broad spectrum protection: they guarantee adequate protection against UVA and UVB radiation.
- SPF is the sun protection category. In the workplace, they must have an SPF equal to or greater than 30. SPF represents, approximately, the number of times by which the time that can be exposed to solar radiation is multiplied without suffering burns. The calculation is made approximately, because other personal factors also come into play such as our skin type, the intake of certain medications, skin diseases…
- SPF 30: 300 minutes/5 hours.
- SPF 50: 500 minutes/8 hours.
Correct use of sunscreen
To make correct use of sunscreen and be properly protected, we must take into account:
- Apply 30 minutes before exposure to dry skin, spreading evenly.
- Sweat and rubbing with clothing can remove the product. It must be reapplied continuously (every 2 hours, approximately).
- Also use on cloudy days.
- Take extreme precautions in the most sensitive parts of the body: face, lips, neck, bald head, shoulders, neckline, ears and hands, using products suitable for each area of the body.
Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is cumulative and can lead to skin cancer in the long term.
How to choose the insect repellent?
Like sun protection cream, it should be used in combination with other items, such as work clothes.
Likewise, and even if it is also a seasonal risk, it must be identified in the Risk Assessment. If the corresponding measures have been applied (such as pest control, disinfection, fumigation…) and the risk persists, the company must provide us with insect repellent in order to be protected individually.
In this case, depending on the type of insects to which we are exposed, we should inform the Prevention Service, our superiors and even colleagues with whom we work on a regular basis if we suffer from any type of allergy to the bite of a specific insect. In order to be duly protected in this situation, some additional and specific protection measure should be taken with these workers.
The USO union shared this advice because they feel it important that all workers are aware of their rights, and to be aware risks associated with heat and high temperatures at work so that you can claim the appropriate measures. In case of non-compliance, you are urged go to consult your own delegates, or, in the event resolution cannot be made, the labour inspectorate.
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