A housebuilder is striving to keep its site team safe from sun rays this Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Barratt Homes, a leading homebuilder, has launched a new initiative to protect its team at Folliott’s Manor in Stourport by giving them sun protection cards.

The cards gauge sun strength, signalling when workers are at greater risk of UV exposure, and therefore, skin damage.

 

 

Read more: Worcester mum homeless as ceiling collapses in Platform home

 

 

These cards, small enough to fit in a wallet, change colour in response to UV intensity, indicating whether exposure is low, moderate, high or critical, which prompts team members to take precautions when necessary.

The scheme forms part of the awareness month, a global effort to educate people about skin cancer signs and prevention.

Adrian Evans, managing director in the housebuilder's West Midlands region, said: "Our site teams work in all weathers and, in the UK’s unpredictable climate, we want to ensure they’re well protected when there’s a greater risk to exposure to the sun.

"It’s important we make certain that our site teams are sun-savvy and protecting their skin as much as possible, and we hope these cards will help everyone stay proactive when it comes to their health and safety onsite."

Despite common belief, skin needs protection even on overcast days, as skin-damaging UV rays can permeate through clouds.

Cancer Research UK has said that these rays, unrelated to temperature, peak when the sun is at its highest, between 11am and 3pm in British summer.

Even in March or mid-October, the sun can be potent enough to cause sunburn.

As such, people are warned to stay alert and protect themselves anytime their shadow appears shorter than their height, which indicates strong UV rays.

For further information about Skin Cancer Awareness Month, visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website.