Version 1
Ppractice No.
148
Reference: 10/06
HCC AS 10/06 101
Page 1 of 3
under S.7 Health &
Safety at Work Act
1974
New April 2011
NMC Code of Professional
conduct
GSCC Code of Practice for
Social Care Workers
PROTECTION AGAINST OVER EXPOSURE TO SUN
This Summarises the actions that must be taken to protect residents and service users
against over exposure to sun.
GENERAL
Normal, limited exposure to Ultra violet radiation in the form of sunlight produces
beneficial Vitamin D in the skin.
However, too much sun or sun-equivalent exposure which contains ultraviolet radiation
(UV rays) will cause burning. The consequence of this type of burn is inflammation of
the skin and Injury can start within 30 minutes of exposure.
Sun burn can also occur without direct exposure to sun, such as by reflection
and, during the course of the day, what may start as a shaded area may become
exposed to direct sunlight.
There are two types of ultra violet rays that cause sunburn.
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UVA rays – these are less potent that UVB rays but penetrate deeper into
the skin, damaging the middle layer (dermis) which contains tissues that
give the skin its elasticity. Prolonged exposure to UVA rays can age the
skin prematurely.
UVB rays – these UV rays are absorbed by the top layer of skin
(epidermis). The epidermis releases chemicals that cause the pain,
swelling and redness associated with sunburn.
Although sunburn can be disabling and cause quite a bit of discomfort it can in some
cases be fatal. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays increases the risk of developing skin
cancer. Therefore, sunburn is a warning sign of risk and damage to the skin.
RISK FACTORS
There is a greater risk of getting sunburn : For people under the age of 6 – the skin is more frail and easily damaged
 For people over the age of 60 – the skin again becomes frail and more
easily damaged
 For people with pale coloured skin
 For people who have blonde or red hair colour
 For people who work outside for long periods particularly when there are
clear skies
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At a high altitude – for example, climbing or skiing
Near snow, ice or water where the sun’s rays can reflect onto the skin
During the use of certain drugs which can sensitize the skin to radiation
injury. In these cases over exposure to sun should be avoided, and if
necessary medical advice sought. The most likely medications to cause
sun sensitivity are antibiotics, antipsoriatics (prescribed for skin
conditions), and acne medicines. Some anti-inflammatory medications
may also have this effect. The herbal drug, St. John's Wort, is also
thought to make skin more vulnerable to sunburn
People with reduced awareness to the environment e.g. during the use of
mind-altering drugs (including alcohol)
SUNBURN SYMPTOMS
 Mild and uncomplicated cases of sunburn usually result in minor skin
redness and irritation
 Sufficient exposure can become very painful
 Untreated burns and excessive exposure, can result in shock (poor
circulation to vital organs) and even death
 Initially, the skin turns red about 2-6 hours after exposure and feels
irritated. The peak effects are noted at 12-24 hours
 In more severe cases there can be severe skin burning and blistering,
massive fluid loss resulting in dehydration, electrolyte (body fluid
chemical) imbalance, and infection
 Other common symptoms include:
 Chills
 Fever
 Nausea and vomiting
 Influenza like symptoms
 Blistering – which may range from a very fine blister that is
only found when the skin begins to "peel", to very large water
filled blisters with red, tender, raw skin underneath
 Skin loss - About 4-7 days after exposure
PREVENTION
The best prevention is to avoid the sun.
Other, more practical strategies include : Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long trousers
 Using a sun-blocking agent. Some are just for the lips and face, others
are for more general-purpose use. Attention must be paid to the sun
protection factor (SPF) and whether or not PABA is in the product. PABA
should be avoided in persons with frail or sensitive skin as it can cause
skin irritation. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the sunblocking agent may have. SPF is actually a ratio of the time it takes to
produce a skin reaction on protected and unprotected skin. Thus, a 30
SPF sunscreen would in theory allow exposure 30 times longer than with
no sunscreen. However, this may vary in practice and should not be
relied on. Sunscreen must be applied in generous amounts, in layers and
reapplied as necessary. Activities such as sweating and swimming
degrade its effectiveness. Sunscreens are not waterproof. N.B. These
preparations are Screening substances, THEY DO NOT BLOCK
harmful radiation.
ESSENTIAL ACTION AND RECORDING
 A generic risk assessment must be in place relating to :the use of sun screen and the frequency of application to
exposed skin, protective clothing to be worn e.g. wide
brimmed hats, light covering for arms and legs
 Individual risk assessments, where necessary, relating to specific
medication or health conditions which contra indicate or require specific
treatment before exposure to sun, e.g. taking Ibuprofen based
medication/ steroids etc. The manager in consultation with the key worker
should access BNF online if unsure, and/or contact the supplying
pharmacy or GP practice.
 Staff must ensure that they record the actions taken before a resident or
service user sits in the sun
STAFF
Staff are not exempt from the risk of sun burn and all staff have a duty of care to
protect the health and welfare of themselves and others, under S.7 of the Health &
Safety at Work Act 1974.
When working with residents and service users where there is a risk of sunburn,
staff are strongly advised to apply a level of care to themselves as that of the people
they are working with, by wearing suitable clothing – within the dress code – see
guide line 101, and using sunscreen as appropriate.