Health and Safety ReportVolume 24, Issue 05

For many workers, being outdoors isn’t an occasional event, it’s a regular part of the job. They spend long hours in direct sunlight, often during peak ultraviolet (UV) periods. To help workers stay safe, it’s important to understand where and how exposures are happening. 

By the numbers 

The latest data from CAREX Canada shows that approximately 1.6 million workers in Canada are exposed to solar UV on the job. The highest levels of exposure are found among construction workers, farmers and farm managers, landscapers, and ground maintenance workers. The data also shows that 80% of these workers are male.  

A common but often underestimated hazard 

Solar UV radiation can be easy to overlook. It isn’t as visible as many workplace hazards, and its effects are not always immediate. But over time, exposure can lead to skin damage, eye injury, and an increased risk of skin cancer. 

Unlike some workplace exposures, there is no occupational exposure limit for solar UV radiation. However, that doesn’t mean the risk is low; it means exposure is harder to define and control using traditional approaches. 

Workers may not always feel the effects right away, especially on cooler or overcast days. But UV radiation is still present, and damage can build over time. Sunburn is one visible sign, but long-term exposure is what increases the risk of more serious health outcomes. 

When standard advice doesn’t fit the job 

Most sun safety messaging is designed for the general public, focusing on avoiding the sun during peak hours or changing the timing of activities. That advice can’t always be applied to specific industries or jobs. 

Outdoor work is scheduled, tasks are typically fixed, and conditions don’t always allow for flexibility. For many workers, avoiding the sun simply isn’t an option. This disconnect can make standard guidance harder, or in many cases, impossible to apply. Messaging for skin cancer, eye damage, and heat stress prevention among outdoor workers needs to be tailored and practical.  

Practical protection that works 

Sun safety in the workplace needs to reflect how work is done. Instead of relying on ideal conditions, workplaces should use control measures based on the hierarchy of controls to reduce exposure.  

If elimination is not possible, engineering controls, such as shade, should be considered first. When natural shade is limited, temporary options such as tents, tarps or canopies can help. Taking breaks in shaded areas also reduces overall exposure. 

Clothing can provide consistent protection. Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants, and wide-brimmed hats (or attachments that fit onto hard hats) help protect the skin without interfering with tasks.  

Eye protection is just as important. Look for safety glasses, sunglasses, or prescription eyewear with UV-protective lenses. 

Sunscreen plays a supporting role, especially for the face, neck, and hands. It works best when it is easy to access, applied properly, and re-applied as needed. 

The sun and heat 

Sun exposure often overlaps with heat, especially during the summer months. This can create competing demands. 

Workers may remove layers to stay cool, which can increase UV exposure. At the same time, heat stress can lead to fatigue and make it harder to follow protective practices. 

Looking at sun and heat together helps create more balanced controls. Planning for cooler, shaded breaks, hydration, and appropriate clothing can support both heat illness prevention and UV protection at the same time. 

For outdoor workers in construction, farming, landscaping, and ground maintenance, making sun safety a regular part of the job through planning, supervision, and regular reminders helps to keep it visible. Taking small, practical steps consistently can reduce sun exposure and support the long-term health of workers who spend their days outdoors. 

Resources  

• Addressing sun safety at work in Canada, CAREX Canada
• Solar UV Radiation Occupational Exposures, CAREX Canada
• Sun Safety in Canada Infographic, CCOHS 

Illustration provided by CAREX Canada

Falls from ladders at work can result in serious injuries. Providing hands-on training can help workers understand the risks and work safely. With proper preparation, you can help prevent falls in your workplace.  

• Choose the right ladder for the job. Use ladders that are CSA-approved and suitable for the task. Consider ladder types, weight and load capacities, and material. Do not use metal ladders near live electrical equipment or wires. Also check for safer ways to perform the job without using a ladder.
• Inspect the ladder before each use. Check for dents, bends, cracks, wear, splits, rot, corrosion, rust, grease, oil, caulking, metal, and anything else that could make the ladder unsafe to use.
• Dispose of damaged ladders. Look for worn or faulty non-slip feet, locks, spreaders, ropes and other parts. Be sure to remove damaged ladders from the workplace and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when doing repairs.
• Set the ladder up for stability. Set the ladder on a firm, level and non-slippery surface. Secure the base and top so they do not move and make sure the surface and ladder feet are clean to avoid sliding. Clear the area around the base and remove unstable material.
• Use the 1:4 rule. When setting up an extension ladder, place the base one foot away from the wall for every four feet in height, with at least three feet extending above the point of support.
• Take caution before climbing. Clean mud, grease or any loose or slippery material off footwear. Use a hoist rope or tool belt to carry tools or materials. Ask a spotter for support if needed.
• Maintain three-point contact. Always face the ladder when using it, keeping your centre of gravity between the side rails. Stand no higher than the third or fourth rung from the top when working. Place two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the ladder at all times.
• Use fall protection when working at or above three metres. Check with your jurisdiction about fall protection requirements for your industry.

CCOHS resources

• Ladder Safety fact sheets
• Ladder Safety infographic
• Ladder Safety course

Building a psychologically healthy and safe workplace is an ongoing journey, and the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment can help you along the way. This free, bilingual online tool helps organizations and leaders support and protect employees’ psychological safety in the workplace through effective leadership strategies.  

Leaders can take the assessment, view their results, and identify psychologically healthy and safe leadership strategies they want to continue or start, with resources to support the leader to take action.  

The Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment can be used by both organizations and by individual leaders. This tool also features an option to gather employee feedback from the leader’s direct reports for a more comprehensive picture. 

Learn more about the Psychologically Safe Leader Assessment and to get started: https://psychologicallysafeleader.com/.

Featured Podcast: Data-Driven Approaches to Health and Safety 

Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada CEO Janet MacEachern joins us to discuss national injury trends, and how workplaces can use AWCBC’s data to support prevention locally. 

Listen to the podcast now. 

Encore podcast: Creating Safe Workplaces for International Workers  

International workers are an integral part of the Canadian economy. There are a number of factors that make them uniquely vulnerable, from language barriers to fears around work permits and job security that may prevent them from speaking up about unsafe conditions. Francy Munoz from the C.A.R.E. for International Workers program discusses ways to improve workplace safety for international workers. 

Listen to the podcast now. 

See the complete list of podcast topics or, better yet, subscribe to the series on YouTube, iTunes or Spotify and don't miss a single episode.

Firefighters are at greater risk of exposure to flame retardants, diesel engine exhaust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other carcinogens that may cause occupational cancer.

CCOHS has partnered with Health Canada to develop free resources to raise awareness about the unique hazards firefighters face, and how to help reduce the risk of exposure to carcinogens.

The tools include tip sheets, infographics, checklists, fact sheets, and a video. To access the resources, visit www.ccohs.ca/cancer-awareness-firefighting.

Women pursuing a career in occupational health and safety are invited to apply for our $3,000 Chad Bradley Scholarship. 

Applicants need to be enrolled in either a full-time or part-time health and safety related program at an accredited college or university in Canada.  

The deadline to apply is August 31, 2026. Learn more about the scholarship.

Get insights on the health and safety issues your workplace needs to be ready for at CCOHS Forum, October 28-29 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Meet our keynote speaker

As a business futurist and Head of Innovation and Change at Waitrose & Partners, Lee Jeyes will challenge current thinking on innovation and share practical insights for moving ideas forward and driving change. Drawing on his extensive professional experience, Lee will offer strategies and tools to effectively execute ideas and navigate change in large and complex organizations.

Forum will also feature sessions on:

• the future of work and what is on the horizon for workplace health and safety
• national injury trends, emerging risks and data-driven prevention
• the evolution of psychological health and safety
• cultivating a mindset for excellence

Save $100 with the discounted early bird rate when you register by June 26.

Stay tuned for more speaker announcements coming soon. For the latest updates, visit www.ccohs.ca/forum.