Sun Safety Responsibilities for Event Organisers and Employers

Employers and event organisers already have a responsibility to consider foreseeable risks affecting staff and contractor welfare during outdoor working conditions. 

As UV exposure and heat risk become increasingly recognised within occupational health and safety discussions, organisations are beginning to look more closely at how sun protection, hydration, shade and welfare provision are supported operationally on site.

PSA Sun Safety has been developed by the PSA in partnership with the Melanoma Fund to support a more practical, usable approach to sun and heat safety across outdoor production environments.

How to make a difference ...

The problem is behavioural, not informational. Most outdoor workers already know the sun can cause damage. The issue is that:

  • sunscreen is rarely visible or easily accessible
  • protection is not reinforced operationally
  • crews underestimate cumulative exposure
  • sunburn is normalised
  • sun safety is not typically role modelled
  • protecting skin still feels optional rather than normal

Outdoor production environments are not currently designed to support consistent protective behaviour during long shifts. That is where small operational changes make a difference.

What good practice looks like...

Simple operational changes have the biggest impact:

  • visible sunscreen provision on site
  • UV and heat reminders within toolbox talks
  • shaded welfare areas where possible
  • hydration encouraged throughout shifts
  • integrating UV exposure into site risk assessments
  • including UV and heat messaging within inductions and crew briefings
  • crew leaders reinforcing protective behaviours
  • realistic conversations around fatigue and heat stress
To find more Sun Safety Advice, visit the Melanoma Fund's website here