Summer PPE Checklist for Outdoor Workers: Sun, Heat and Hydration
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Summer on an Australian worksite brings two hazards at once. UV that damages skin and eyes, and heat that wears people down. They are not the same thing. A cool, overcast day can still carry high UV, and a hot day in the shade can still cause heat illness. Your summer PPE plan needs to cover both.
Here is a practical checklist for outdoor crews, and the gear that actually gets worn.
Why Summer Changes Your PPE Needs
WorkSafe Victoria estimates that around 200 melanomas and 34,000 non-melanoma skin cancers a year in Australia are caused by UV exposure at work. Outdoor workers are generally 5 to 10 times more exposed to UV each year than indoor workers.
Sun protection is recommended whenever the UV Index is 3 or above. For outdoor workers, WorkSafe Victoria recommends sun protection all year round, because UV damage adds up over time. Summer is simply when the risk peaks. During daylight saving, UV is highest between 11 am and 3 pm.
Heat is the second hazard. It can lead to heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency. Hot conditions also cause fatigue, mistakes and loss of grip from sweaty hands. That applies indoors too. Roof spaces, sheds and factories can hold heat long after the day cools down.
The Checklist
1. Head, Face, Ears and Neck
A hard hat protects the top of the head, not the face, ears or neck. On sites where helmets are mandatory, WorkSafe Victoria recommends adding sun protection such as a broad brim, a brim and neck flap attachment, or a legionnaire style cover.
- Hard hat brim with neck flap adds shade to the face, ears and neck for helmet wearers.
- Hard hat neck flap for workers who spend the day bent over or head down.
- Broad brim vented hard hat gives built-in shade and airflow in one helmet.
Where helmets are not required, choose a broad brim hat (7.5 cm or more), a legionnaire cap or a bucket hat. Peaked caps are not recommended because they leave the ears and back of the neck exposed.
2. Eyes
UV exposure contributes to cataracts and cancer on and around the eye. If safety glasses are already required for the task, WorkSafe Victoria advises that tinted or clear safety glasses can give adequate sun protection, as long as the lens is specified for outdoor use. Look for AS/NZS 1337.1 marking with an "O" for outdoor use on the product or packaging.
Two points that catch people out:
- Dark does not mean UV rated. The colour or darkness of a lens tells you nothing about its UV protection. Check the marking.
- Polarised lenses cut glare, which helps around water, wet surfaces, metal roofing and glass.
We cover lens types in more detail in our Eye Protection guide.
Shop UV Protection Safety Glasses | Shop Polarised Safety Glasses
3. Skin
Clothing is the first layer. Long sleeve shirts with a collar and long trousers cover the most skin. Look for a UPF 50+ rating on the label where it is available. Loose fitting garments also let air move, which helps with heat.
Sunscreen covers what clothing cannot, mainly the face, ears, neck and hands. WorkSafe Victoria's guidance:
- Use broad spectrum, water resistant SPF 50 or 50+.
- Apply to clean skin 20 minutes before going outside. A thin layer can cut protection by up to half.
- Reapply at least every 2 hours, and more often when sweating.
- Store it below 30°C. Not in the ute glovebox.
- Use an SPF 30 or higher lip balm.
No sunscreen gives 100% protection, so it should never be the only control. Keep it where people will actually use it: the site office, the crib room, next to the exit door.
- SPF 50+ sunscreen 1 litre pump with a wall bracket for site offices and crib rooms.
- SPF 50+ sunscreen 50 ml with carabiner that clips to a belt or bag for reapplying on the job.
Browse Sun Protection | Browse Hi-Vis and Workwear
4. Hydration and Heat
WorkSafe Victoria lists these ways to manage heat risk:
- Schedule physically demanding work for the cooler part of the day.
- Work from a cooler location where possible.
- Wear light clothing that still gives adequate protection.
- Give extra rest breaks in a cool area.
- Make sure workers can get cool water and are staying hydrated.
- Use mechanical aids to reduce physical effort.
Water has to be close to the work, not a walk away. Cooler jugs on site make that easy. Electrolyte drinks can help replace salts lost through heavy sweating on long, hot shifts.
- 5 litre drink cooler jug for keeping water cold at the work front.
- Aqualyte electrolyte sachets, powders and icy poles in crew-sized packs.
5. Hands
Sweaty hands lose grip on tools and materials. If your crew handles oily, wet or smooth surfaces, a glove with a grip coating suited to the task makes a real difference in summer. Our Work Gloves guide covers how to match the glove to the hazard.
Know the Signs of Heat Illness
Train your crew to spot these in themselves and in each other:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Feeling weak
- Pale skin
- Heavy sweating
- Headaches
- Clumsiness
- Convulsions
If someone shows these signs, stop work, move them somewhere cool and get them drinking water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If someone is confused, collapses or has a seizure, call 000.
Is There a Temperature at Which Work Must Stop?
Not in Victorian OHS law. There is no set temperature that triggers a stop. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, employers must provide a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, so far as is reasonably practicable. Heat and UV are managed as risks like any other. That means looking at the task, the duration, the time of day and the conditions, then putting controls in place.
PPE Is the Last Layer
Shade, scheduling and job rotation do more work than any hat or sunscreen. Move outdoor work out of the peak UV hours where you can. Put up shade structures, or at least provide shade for breaks. Rotate people between indoor and outdoor tasks. Then use PPE to cover what is left.
WorkSafe Victoria recommends documenting these measures in a sun protection policy and consulting with workers and health and safety representatives when you set it up. Their Sun protection for outdoor workers guidance is worth reading in full.
Summer PPE Quick Checklist
| Area | What to have on site |
|---|---|
| Head and neck | Hard hat brim or neck flap, or a broad brim hat where helmets aren't required |
| Eyes | Safety glasses marked for outdoor use, polarised where glare is a problem |
| Skin | Long sleeves and long trousers, SPF 50+ sunscreen, SPF 30+ lip balm |
| Hydration | Cool water close to the work, electrolytes for long hot shifts |
| Hands | Gloves with grip suited to the task |
| Systems | Shade, scheduling, rest breaks, heat illness training, a sun protection policy |
Get Your Crew Summer Ready
Stock up before the hot weather sets in and the Christmas shutdown slows deliveries. Browse by category below, or get in touch and we will help you match the gear to the work.
Shop Sun Protection | Shop Hydration | Shop Head Protection
For an overview of every PPE category, see our Complete Guide to Workplace PPE in Australia.
This is general information to help you choose PPE. It isn't a substitute for a workplace risk assessment or professional safety advice, and every site is different. If you're setting up or reviewing controls for your workplace, it's worth getting a professional assessment for your specific situation.