Marley, the UK’s leading roof system manufacturer, wants to publicise its annual ‘Safe in the Sun’ campaign to urge roofers to take the power of the sun seriously and protect their skin from its damaging rays while working outside this summer, and wants builder’s merchants to play their part too.

With temperatures rising every day and the UK set for a sustained spell of hot waether, Marley, the UK’s leading roof system manufacturer, wants roofers to be aware of its annual ‘Safe in the Sun’ campaign.

Daniel Redfern, Marketing Manager at Marley said, ‘The skin is the body’s first defence against aggressors, including the sun. Whilst the sun is undoubtedly beneficial to our wellbeing, too much sun can seriously damage our skin – both now and in the future.’

‘We want merchants to recognise their responsibility to their roofing contractor customers and to get involved with our campaign to help spread the Safe in the Sun message. We are supporting the campaign with posters for merchants as well as via social media.’

Prevention

Over 400 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in the UK, with 44 of those being deadly melanoma, and the rate of incidence is rising rapidly.

Daniel said, ‘When it comes to skin cancer, prevention is better than cure. That’s why, for this year’s campaign, we’re encouraging roofers to focus on the importance of sun safety and protecting their skin on site, with straight-forward and clear advice.’

Skin checks

It is important to be aware of any changes to the skin, in particular, moles. For example, has a mole enlarged or a new one appeared? Does it have an irregular outline or is mixed black and brown in colour? Is the mole bigger than the blunt end of a pencil? Are the edges inflamed or red? Does it feel different – itchy or painful? If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above, a visit the GP immediately is advised to get it checked out.

Protect and prevent

However, there are simple precautions that can be taken, to minimise the risk of sun damage and to help protect the skin.

  • Cover up with suitable clothing and use sunscreen on all exposed parts of the body.
  • Avoid sunburn – it’s painful and can increase the risk of developing melanoma – not just now but in the future too
  • Apply a sunscreen of at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 (for UVB protection) and a star rating of 4 or 5 (for UVA protection) evenly and regularly to all areas of exposed skin – including the face. Using a water-resistant formula will also help provide better protection as it is more able to cope with the effects of sweating.
  • Ideally, sunscreen should be applied at least 20 minutes before going outside and then re-applied every two hours. Consistency – in terms of even coverage and regular application is essential.

Competition

Daniel said, ‘We want as many roofers and construction workers to stay Safe in the Sun this summer. That’s why we’re running a fantastic prize draw to help spread the message for one lucky roofer to win £1000 worth of Amazon vouchers to spend on essential tools!

‘All roofing contractors have to do to enter the competition is visit the Marley website – www.marley.co.uk/safeinthesun and register their details.’