A working in the sun toolbox talk is summer, construction site essential. Although, plan ahead and it will usually rain on that day! Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are both health and safety risks that you need to manage during on construction sites. Even though the British summer can be hit and miss, you need to have a few things in place to keep your workforce safe and in work.
Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
Every employer has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act to provide their employees with information, instruction, training and supervision. This applies to all aspects of the job, but I’ll tell you how you can quickly and easily comply with this requirement.
Information about Working in the Sun
You can download a working in the sun toolbox talk pack here.
Posters are a great way to quicky convey information and what place do we have nothing to look at – the toilet! Put the urine colour chart above the urinals and the heat exhaustion infographic on the back of the toilet door.
Instruction
It is not a legal requirement that an employer:
- provide protective suncream
- enforce people wearing protective suncream
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t provide it. You can, in the same way that barrier creams and moisturisers are provided.
Read more about who is responsible for health and safety to check your duties.
Working in the Sun Toolbox Talk Training
Toolbox talks are the best way to provide information to your employees and subcontractors. Make sure you have them sign a register so you have proof that you trained them in the event of a personal injury claim.
Supervision
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion creep up then are quite severe. People don’t often recognise the symptoms themselves. It’s a great idea to check on each other and make sure those working on scaffolds have water up there with them. When effort is required, people tend to “just do one more thing” and before they know it, time has flown and they are feeling quite poorly.
Download your Free Working in the Sun Toolbox Talk Here
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