How colour-changing hi-vis technology can protect construction workers from harmful UV

This summer has been a scorcher, with more sunny weather and soaring temperatures set to continue in the weeks ahead.

Keeping construction workers safe in the heat is becoming an increasingly important issue for construction firms, as well as protecting staff from harmful UV rays.

Two people hold a bright yellow reflective safety vest between them near a waterfront marina, with boats, buildings, and a clear blue sky in the background. | Work & Wear DIrect

Thankfully, new kit has been developed to tackle this issue, including a new hi-vis badge that can warn workers when they’ve had enough sun.

Here, we explore this technology and how it can help keep workers safe in the sunshine.

A burning issue

Staying cool and well-hydrated has always been crucial for construction workers as the mercury rises, but avoiding harmful UV rays is becoming one of the industry’s top priorities.

Research from the Health and Safety Executive has shown that, despite making up just 8% of the UK’s workforce, construction workers account for 44% of all occupational skin cancer diagnoses and 42% of related deaths annually.

To combat this, construction firms have been bringing in new initiatives to protect their teams, including supplying free sunblock and advising them on how to ensure they are protected.

New technology is also attempting to tackle the issue, including a new badge for hi-vis vests that can alert workers to high UV levels.

Colour-changing badge

The ‘UV U See’ badges are a product that can help monitor how much UV light workers are being exposed to on site.

The heat-applied badge can either be purchased on its own and applied to hi-vis, or can be bought pre-fixed to a garment.

The badge reacts to UV light, changing from white to pink to red as UV levels rise, providing a clear visual reminder to workers to apply sunscreen, cover exposed skin to or seek shade while the sun is at its highest.

When workers are on site and construction is in full swing, the dangers of UV exposure can often get overlooked.

Person wearing a yellow high-visibility vest with WORK & WEAR and UV YOU SEE logos, standing by a marina with boats and buildings in the background. | Work & Wear DIrect

This badge makes it clear when sun exposure is becoming harmful, so workers can tackle the problem before it’s too late.

A growing problem

Whatever your views on the causes of climate change, it’s clear we are experiencing hotter, longer periods of hot weather than we used to.

Not only that, experts expect this to get worse in the years to come, with hot, heatwave-filled summers set to become the norm.

The construction industry is rightly taking steps to make sure its workers are safe when outdoors for long periods of time and innovative items such as the UV U See badge are helping them achieve this ambition.

More information about the UV U See badge can be found here