Sun Protection for Roofers

By Sarah Smith, JobNimbus.

Roofing can be a dangerous job that requires several safety precautions, but often times, one specific is overlooked — the sun.

Rooftop safety doesn’t just mean wearing helmets and harnesses, it also includes wearing sun protection. 

Sun protection for roofers is important. Working under high temperatures can contribute to heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and dehydration. Additionally, at least 70% of contractors believe they will develop skin cancer in the future. If you don’t want to be a part of that statistic, it’s best that you protect yourself from the sun as much as possible when working. Here are a few tips to help you keep cool this summer:

Protective Clothing

Sun protection means more than just sunscreen. Wearing the right clothes will significantly reduce the amount of sun damage to your skin. Long-sleeved shirts that are loose-fitting and light in color are great for staying cool. Consider picking fabrics that have great breath-ability, such as cotton, which will absorb moisture away from the skin and allow ventilation.

You can also buy fabrics that have UV protection built into them. Avoid wearing unnatural fabrics like polyester, which will only make you hotter. Other accessories you can wear to stay cool include wraparound sunglasses, light scarves or bandannas, and wide-brimmed hats.

Sunscreen

As an outdoors-man, sunscreens with SPF 30 should be the minimum protection value to apply. A better option is either an SPF 50, which blocks 98% of UV rays, or SPF 100, which blocks 99%.

Try to apply sunscreen every couple of hours or sooner, depending on how much you sweat. Wearing sunscreen will not only lower your chances of getting skin cancer but also keep your skin from aging and becoming irritated. For guaranteed sun protection, choose a sunscreen lotion over a spray. You can also make your own.

Taking Breaks

No matter what you’re working on, you need to make sure to get your breaks. A good employee will monitor their health and practice sun-safety. Especially during the summer, a standard or dark roof can double or more in temperature compared to what it is outside. If it’s over 80 degrees, you are at risk of overexposure and heat illness.

Establish a shaded area to take a few breaks throughout your project and be sure to stay hydrated. Bring lots of cool water, and don’t only drink when you’re thirsty. If you notice any signs of dizziness, fatigue, cramps or headaches, it’s certainly time to take a break and get out of the sun.

Taking breaks doesn’t have to interfere with the amount of work you get done each day. With JobNimbus, you can plan out your projects and make adjustments as necessary so you can still hit your goals. JobNimbus makes the perfect roofing software for managing all the projects you have going on during the busy summer months.

If you’d like to learn more about what a CRM software could do to help your business make more money, check out our blog on tracking jobs here. 

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Original article source: JobNimbus