July marks UV Safety Month—an important opportunity to raise awareness of a risk that is often present but rarely visible.
In Qatar and across the Middle East, sunlight is part of everyday life. It is also a significant occupational and public-health consideration, particularly for construction workers, maintenance teams, drivers, security personnel, landscapers, delivery workers and anyone who regularly works outdoors.
Ultraviolet radiation cannot be seen or felt. Unlike heat, it does not always produce an immediate warning that exposure is becoming harmful. Yet repeated or excessive exposure can cause sunburn, premature skin ageing, eye damage and skin cancer. In 2025, the International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that more than 80% of cutaneous melanoma cases worldwide in 2022 were attributable to UV radiation exposure.
This makes UV protection more than a seasonal wellbeing message—it is an essential part of effective risk management.
UV exposure and heat stress are related—but different
During the Middle East summer, employers naturally focus on temperature, humidity, hydration and heat stress. These controls are critical, but they do not fully address UV exposure.
Heat and UV radiation are separate hazards:
- Heat risk is influenced by temperature, humidity, air movement, workload, clothing and radiant heat.
- UV risk is determined by the intensity of ultraviolet radiation reaching the skin and eyes.
UV exposure can remain high even when the weather feels cooler, windy or slightly cloudy. A worker may be protected from heat by hydration and rest breaks but still receive harmful UV exposure.
For this reason, UV protection should be included alongside—not absorbed into—the organisation's heat-stress programme.
Why this matters particularly in Qatar
Qatar experiences intense sunshine and prolonged periods of outdoor work. July is also typically the country's hottest month, according to the Qatar Meteorology Department.
Qatar's summer working-hours legislation provides important protection against heat stress. Under Ministerial Decision No. 17 of 2021, work at exposed outdoor sites is prohibited between 10:00 am and 3:30 pm from 1 June to 15 September. Work must also stop when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature exceeds 32.1°C.
These are essential controls, but employers should remember that UV exposure can be significant outside the prohibited hours. Early-morning and late-afternoon work therefore still requires appropriate sun protection.
Practical UV protection for workplaces
The most effective approach follows the hierarchy of controls. Sunscreen is important, but it should not be the only control.
1. Check the UV Index
Include the daily UV Index in pre-work planning, toolbox talks and shift briefings. The World Health Organization recommends sun protection when the UV Index reaches 3 or above.
Supervisors can use weather services or the WHO-supported SunSmart Global UV application to identify when protection is required. The higher the index, the greater the potential for skin and eye damage—and the less time it may take for harm to occur.
2. Plan work around exposure
Where operationally possible:
- Schedule higher-exposure activities for earlier or later in the day.
- Rotate workers to limit continuous exposure.
- Move preparation, assembly and administrative tasks indoors or into shaded areas.
- Consider UV exposure when planning overtime, emergency work and maintenance shutdowns.
- Avoid unnecessary outdoor waiting periods.
Work scheduling must also comply with Qatar's summer working-hours requirements.
3. Provide effective shade
Rest areas should be properly shaded, ventilated and located close enough for workers to use them easily. Temporary canopies, covered walkways, vehicle shelters and shaded task areas can reduce exposure.
Shade should be assessed throughout the shift because the position of the sun changes. A rest station that is shaded in the morning may offer little protection later in the day.
4. Choose suitable clothing and PPE
Workers should be provided with lightweight, breathable clothing that covers as much skin as reasonably practical. Depending on the work and compatibility with other PPE, this may include:
- Long-sleeved shirts and full-length trousers.
- Fabrics designed for UV protection.
- Wide-brimmed hats or approved neck shades compatible with safety helmets.
- Wraparound sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB radiation.
- UV-protective visors where suitable.
Any attachment to a safety helmet must be approved and must not interfere with its fit or protective performance.
5. Use sunscreen correctly
The WHO recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, with an SPF of at least 30.
Sunscreen should be:
- Applied generously to all exposed skin before outdoor work.
- Used on frequently missed areas such as the ears, neck, face, hands and tops of the feet.
- Reapplied at least every two hours.
- Reapplied sooner after heavy sweating, swimming or wiping the skin.
- Stored according to the manufacturer's instructions and checked for expiry.
For outdoor teams, sunscreen should be readily available at welfare facilities, site entrances, vehicles and other convenient locations. Workers should not be expected to supply their own essential protective products.
6. Protect every skin tone
A dangerous misconception is that people with darker skin do not need UV protection. Although natural skin pigmentation can provide some protection, people of every skin tone can experience sun damage and develop skin cancer.
In a diverse Middle Eastern workforce, training must be clear, culturally appropriate and available in languages workers understand.
7. Train workers and supervisors
UV awareness should form part of induction training, seasonal safety campaigns and toolbox talks. Training should explain:
- The difference between UV exposure and heat stress.
- How to understand the UV Index.
- How and when to apply sunscreen.
- How to inspect shade and protective equipment.
- Why cloudy or windy conditions do not eliminate UV risk.
- When to report sunburn, eye irritation or concerning skin changes.
Supervisors should reinforce these controls through visible leadership and routine workplace observations.
8. Encourage early reporting and health checks
Workers should be encouraged to report severe sunburn, blistering, persistent eye pain or vision changes. They should also seek medical advice for a new or changing mole, a sore that does not heal, or any unusual change in the skin.
Organisations with employees who experience significant occupational exposure should consider incorporating skin and eye health into their occupational-health programmes.
From awareness to everyday practice
UV Safety Month should not be limited to posters or a once-a-year toolbox talk. Effective protection requires organisations to incorporate UV exposure into risk assessments, method statements, work scheduling, PPE selection, welfare arrangements, training and supervision.
For employers in Qatar and across the Middle East, the message is simple:
Manage the sun as a workplace hazard—not merely as part of the weather.
By combining shade, smarter scheduling, suitable clothing, eye protection, sunscreen, training and active supervision, organisations can protect their people while maintaining safe and productive operations.
At Demoura Lawson Consulting, we support organisations in developing practical, locally relevant HSE systems that turn awareness into consistent action.