UV Safety Month

UV Safety Month is a national health observance held every July to raise awareness of the damage ultraviolet (UV) radiation can do to skin and eyes. It falls in the middle of summer, when UV exposure is generally at its highest. Agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), publish the sun safety guidance most employers rely on.

For employers with outdoor crews, the month is a good time to look at sun exposure as a workplace hazard rather than a personal choice. Construction, landscaping, utilities, agriculture, delivery, road work and many other jobs put people in direct sun for hours at a time, day after day.

When Is UV Safety Month in 2027?

UV Safety Month runs for the whole month of July, from July 1 to July 31, 2027. The observance is tied to the calendar month rather than to a specific week or event, so you can schedule activities at any point in July.

Because sun exposure stays high through late summer, many employers use July to launch controls and reminders that continue until fall.

Why It Matters at Work

According to the CDC, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to UV radiation. People who spend a lot of time in the sun are among those at higher risk, which puts outdoor workers squarely in the group that needs protection.

NIOSH's guidance on sun exposure at work explains that working outdoors in sunlight increases the risk of sunburn and skin cancer, and that UV exposure can also damage the eyes. Long-term exposure can raise the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and pterygium, a growth on the surface of the eye.

Several features of the hazard catch workers off guard:

• UV exposure is generally highest during the summer and between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Workers are at risk even on cloudy days.
• Snow and light-colored sand reflect UV, so workers can be exposed from above and below.
• Sunburn often does not show up until hours after exposure, so people underestimate how much they received.

Sun exposure also overlaps with heat stress. The same crews, hours and tasks that drive UV exposure drive heat risk, so the controls can be planned together.

How to Take Part

• Add UV to your risk assessment. Identify which jobs, sites and times of day involve long periods in direct sun. A structured risk assessment makes it easier to prioritize the highest exposures.
• Work through the hierarchy of controls. Use the hierarchy of controls: schedule outdoor work for lower-sun hours where possible, provide shaded or indoor break areas, and use canopies or shade structures at fixed work points.
• Supply protective gear. Make sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats or hard hat sun brims, neck shades and UV-protective safety glasses easy to get. Treat them as part of your PPE program for outdoor work.
• Train workers. NIOSH recommends training workers on their risk, how to prevent exposure, and the signs and symptoms of overexposure.
• Share the UV Index. CDC notes that the UV Index shows how harmful UV radiation can be on a given day, with higher numbers meaning a greater chance of overexposure. Include it in daily briefings.
• Encourage skin checks. CDC notes that changes in the skin are the most common signs of skin cancer. Remind workers to see a health care provider about new or changing spots.

Toolbox Talk: Sun Protection on the Job

1. Clouds do not block the risk. UV reaches you on overcast days and bounces off snow, sand and light surfaces. Protect yourself whenever you work outside.
2. Use sunscreen the right way. NIOSH recommends SPF 30 or higher, about 1 ounce applied 20 minutes before going out, and reapplying at least every 2 hours and whenever you sweat heavily.
3. Cover up. Long sleeves and long pants protect skin. Dark, tightly woven fabric blocks more UV than light, loosely woven fabric, and UV-rated work clothing gives extra protection.
4. Protect your head and eyes. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or a sun brim on your hard hat, and sunglasses or safety glasses with close to 100 percent UV protection and side protection.
5. Use the shade. Take breaks in shaded or indoor areas, and plan the hardest outdoor tasks for earlier or later in the day when possible.

Discussion question: Which of our tasks keeps you in direct sun the longest, and what would make it easier to protect yourself during that task?

How SMS360 Helps

Sun protection works best when it is built into how jobs are planned. SMS360 Risk Assessment helps you document UV and heat exposure for outdoor tasks, record the controls in place, and review them as seasons and sites change. You can schedule and track sun safety training, run digital site inspections that check for shade, water and protective gear, and assign corrective actions when something is missing. Workers can report observations from a mobile device, and dashboards help supervisors see which crews and sites need attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is UV Safety Month 2027?

UV Safety Month runs for the full month of July, from July 1 to July 31, 2027. It is held at the height of summer, when UV exposure is generally strongest. Employers can schedule training and campaigns at any point in the month.

Is there an OSHA standard for sun exposure?

OSHA does not have a standard written specifically for UV exposure from sunlight. Employers still have a general duty to protect workers from recognized hazards, and NIOSH publishes practical guidance on shade, scheduling, training, clothing, eye protection and sunscreen for outdoor workers.

What SPF should outdoor workers use?

NIOSH recommends sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. Apply about 1 ounce 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply at least every 2 hours, and each time you sweat heavily or get out of the water. Sunscreen works best alongside clothing, hats, eye protection and shade.