Research finds that 1 in 3 outdoor workers never apply sun protection cream on the job

A YouGov survey commissioned in April 2023 by at-work skin care, cleaning & hygiene solutions provider SC Johnson Professional has found that 30% of outdoor workers never apply UV protection cream whilst at work. This is despite the fact that those who work outdoors have a higher than average risk of developing skin cancer. A third (34%) of these respondents claimed that nothing would encourage them to do so, illustrating the scale of the challenge faced by employers.

The findings build on SC Johnson Professional’s previous research into attitudes towards UV protection at work, of both those who work outdoors as well as decision makers and health and safety managers in relevant sectors. In this most recent research, SC Johnson Professional commissioned YouGov to survey a representative sample of workers in the UK, with a total of 558 people who regularly worked outdoors responding, to delve into the ‘why’ behind the attitudes – looking into the reasons for the lack of use of UV protection at work.

In this latest survey, a third of those who never use UV protection at work said that they didn’t think it was necessary. In SC Johnson Professional’s 2020 survey of 114 UK health and safety officials, 30% of these decision makers also said that they believed the reason for lack of UV protection usage was due to a general belief that this type of protection at work in the UK is unnecessary. Further to this, 28% stated that they don’t burn easily in the sun, citing this as their reason for never using UV protection.

Once the UV index reaches 3 or above it is advised that sun protection measures are taken. During the summer months in the UK, the UV index regularly exceeds this level, and according to the Met Office, UV rays can be strong enough to cause sunburn in the UK between April to September. As well as this, 80% of UVA rays pass through clouds.

Further to this, the Health and Safety at Work Act states that there is a legal duty on every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practical, the health of their employees. The Management of Health and Work Regulations also requires the employer to conduct a suitable assessment of the risks to the health of their workforce, including those risks from UV radiation. However, this latest research found that 16% of those who never use sun protection at work said this was because it wasn’t provided by their employer. Having this protection provided by their workplace was cited by almost a quarter (24%) as something that would encourage them to use UV protection – and more than a fifth (22%) also stated that having sun protection cream accessible when needed would encourage usage.

When looking into product, the survey also asked outdoor workers who do use sun protection creams, what the most important thing was when it came to sun protection cream itself. Over half (54%) said that they prioritised high UV protection, 47% said that they prefer a non-greasy product, and a third said that they placed importance on it being water resistant.

Significantly, the research found that, of those who never apply sun protection cream at work, over a third (34%) state that nothing would encourage them to do so. However, nearly two thirds (61%) of those who work outdoors agreed that understanding the effects of UV damage encourages them to use sun protection cream at work. Further to this, when comparing responses from those who work outside more than 25% of the time with those who spend more than half their working time outdoors, our survey found little difference between attitudes towards UV protection.

It is advised that, once the UV index reaches 3 or above, sun protection measures should be taken. During the summer months in the UK, the UV index regularly exceeds this level, and according to the Met Office, UV rays can be strong enough to cause sunburn in the UK between April to September. As well as this, 80% of UVA rays pass through clouds]. UV protection is recommended and required during this 6 month period in the UK – according to SC Johnson Professional, more awareness is needed to encourage those who work outdoors to use it.

Find out more about SC Johnson Professional’s free education resources and product range here

Coventry University strengthens campus safety with latest surveillance technology

Coventry University will enhance security across its 33-acre city-centre campus with a surveillance upgrade that will unlock new capabilities and efficiency gains to support its dedicated security team.

Coventry University is upgrading to the latest version of Synectics’ Synergy software to benefit from features including enhanced video management, dynamic mapping, and integration to analytics-enabled cameras as part of its ongoing mission to keep students, staff, and visitors safe.

Remote 24/7 monitoring, made simple

The upgrade will allow a small team based out of the University’s central control room to monitor more efficiently and effectively over 1,300 cameras spread across a vast array of campus buildings, car parks, student areas and external sites, including halls of residence.

While several of these locations feature localised surveillance recording and viewing facilities, including some third-party technology, Synectics’ Synergy will integrate all feeds to ensure the central team has continuous command and control of cameras and recorded footage.

Video analytics, alarms and incident management

Integration with video analytics-enabled cameras, and the University’s dedicated alarm system, means that the central team will be alerted by Synergy to any suspicious behaviour that warrants immediate attention. This includes the presence and movement of cars or people in or around university premises at unusual times, or in areas with prohibited access, which is particularly beneficial for securing facilities that would be unmanned or patrolled infrequently.

When an event that needs ‘eyes on’ is detected, footage from the nearest available cameras is prioritised in the control room. The exact location is pinpointed within Synergy’s mapping functionality for rapid response. An ‘incident’ is automatically created on the system – with footage pushed to and stored in a secure incident locker for evidential purposes.

This ensures the University is equipped to pursue internal security investigations and support local law enforcement as required.

Reporting that supports resource allocation

Details of all operator activity, alarms received, and incidents generated are automatically logged on the system for fully transparent audit trails.

Together with built-in data analysis and reporting wizards, this means the surveillance team can create valuable reports on incident types, frequency, trends, activity hot spots, how scenarios are dealt with, and a wide range of other information – all of which can be used to demonstrate best-practice compliance for public space surveillance and inform decisions about future security requirements.

Future-proofing surveillance

For Coventry University, the upgrade is a natural evolution of a 15-years-plus collaboration with Synectics. Gary Dedden, Head of Protection Services at Coventry University says: “It’s reassuring to work with the Synectics team, who we already know and trust, and benefit from a surveillance software platform we already find easy and intuitive to use.

“Alongside protecting everyone on site, effective use of resources is a key priority for us. We are always looking for ways to improve our ability to detect suspicious persons and activities across a very diverse campus without creating additional pressure for my team in the control room or for security personnel on the ground.

“Upgrading to the latest version of Synergy allows us to do exactly that. It also unlocks future potential by giving us the flexibility to integrate with any emerging security technologies that we feel will further enhance our capabilities.”

For further information on Synectics’ range of solutions for universities, visit their website