Did you know that traditional clothing doesn’t fully protect your body from the sun’s harmful UV rays? It means if you work outside you could unknowingly be exposing yourself to higher levels of harmful cancer-causing UV rays than you might think.
We take a look at how to know if your workwear is keeping you protected in the summer heat, what to look out for and how to get the best protection when working outdoors.
When it comes to workwear there are lots of ways to stay cool in the summer heat with shorts, sunshades, short sleeved shirts, vests and even sunglasses. However, when you come to order your workwear be mindful that not all products are the same.
Traditional clothing lines will cover your body and provide cooler attire, but they won’t always provide full protection as the sun’s light can still penetrate through the fabric. To block out the ultraviolet sun rays you need to be looking for fabrics with a UPF rating.
What is UPF and how can I know if my workwear is offering me the right level of protection?
UPF or Ultraviolet Protection Factor, measures the amount of UV light that can reach your skin through a particular fabric. The higher the rating the more protection it offers. A UPF rating of 5 means that roughly 20% of the sun’s rays will still reach your skin, where as a UPF 50 rating will only allow 2%.
Knowing what materials are best for what conditions will help you to keep your workforce safe in the summer heat.
Keeping your cool not only makes working outside in extreme conditions more comfortable it is also important for protecting your health.
Too much sun can cause skin damage, sun burn and premature aging increasing the risk of skin cancer or painful burns.
Getting the right level of protection is essential and with long hours working outdoors that isn’t always about just applying sunscreen to the areas exposed to the sun. UPF clothing provides a wearable shield to allow you to be out in the summer sun safely for longer.
If you, or your team, work outdoors and are looking for ways to stay protected from the elements why not get in touch. Come rain or shine we have the perfect workwear solution. Contact our team for more details on 0121 430 9000 or [email protected].