Free 5-minute toolbox talkHealth and wellnessEnglish and Spanish
Sunscreen safety moment: a sun protection toolbox talk
Sunburn hurts, but the bigger problem is that sun damage adds up over a career. Skin cancer is a real risk for outdoor workers. What OSHA requires: OSHA has no specific standard for sun exposure or sunscreen; the general duty to train still applies (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)).
A free sunscreen safety moment and sun protection toolbox talk. Read it aloud in about five minutes, in English or Spanish.
Updated October 29, 2026 · Based on 29 CFR 1926.21
Read it out loud
Free 5-minute toolbox talk
Read it out loud to your crew. It takes about 5 minutes.
Start with a question
When was the last time you put on sunscreen at work, and when did you last reapply it?
Why it matters
Working outdoors means being in the sun for hours, day after day. Sunburn hurts, but the bigger problem is that sun damage adds up over a career. Skin cancer is a real risk for outdoor workers. A few simple habits protect your skin, your eyes and your health for the long run.
Key points
Use sunscreen, and use enough
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high protection rating. Put it on before you start work, and cover your face, ears, neck, arms and the backs of your hands. Reapply during the day, especially when you sweat. Follow the label.
Cover up with clothing
Long sleeves and long pants in a light, loose, tightly woven fabric block sun and keep you cooler than you might think. A wide-brimmed hat or a hard hat with a brim or neck flap protects your face and neck. Wear clothing that fits the job, and keep it clear of moving parts.
Protect your eyes
Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet light, or use safety glasses with that protection. Eyes can be damaged by sun and glare. Where flying particles are a hazard, use eye protection that is rated for that hazard.
Find shade and time the hard work
Take breaks in the shade or a cool place. When you can, schedule the hardest outdoor tasks for the cooler parts of the day. The sun is strongest in the middle of the day, even when it is cloudy. A tent or a canopy for the crew is worth it.
Drink water and watch for heat illness
Sun and heat go together. Drink water often. An adequate supply of drinking water must be provided at the construction workplace. Watch for dizziness, headache and nausea in yourself and coworkers, and act early.
Check your skin and treat a burn
Look for new spots or moles, or ones that change in size, shape or color, and see a doctor if you notice them. For a sunburn, get out of the sun, cool the skin, drink water and avoid breaking blisters. See a medical provider for a severe burn.
Scenario
Picture this: A landscaping crew works all day in open sun. One worker skips sunscreen because he put some on at home hours ago. Another wears a tank top and no hat. By noon, one has a red, painful burn on his neck and arms, and feels dizzy and nauseous. His coworker says to just push through. What would you do for him, and what should the crew do tomorrow?
Ask the crew
- What sun protection do you use at work now, and what is missing?
- Where is the shade, and how can we make more of it?
- Have you ever had a bad sunburn? What did you learn?
- How can we remind each other to reapply sunscreen?
Takeaway
Sunscreen, clothing, shade and water protect you today and long after this job is done.
Trainer: ______________________ Date: ____________
Credit: ToolboxKits, https://toolboxkits.com/topics/sun-protection/ (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
The poster is also inside the paid kits.
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Inside the kit
See what is in the kit
What is in the kit
Editable PowerPoint- Trainer guide
Quiz- Answer key
Sign-in sheet
Certificate- Crew handout
Try it
Try the quiz
Three questions from this topic. Pick an answer to see the right one and the OSHA paragraph.
Question 1 of 3
When should you put on sunscreen?
The rule
What OSHA requires
Plain-language summary. Each line links to the exact paragraph of the regulation.
OSHA has no specific standard for sun exposure or sunscreen; the general duty to train still applies. In construction, the employer must instruct each employee in recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions and the rules that apply to their work environment.
“The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.”
An adequate supply of drinking water must be provided in all places of employment in construction. Check that coolers are full and clean before a hot day or a long weekend of overtime.
“An adequate supply of potable water shall be provided in all places of employment.”
In construction, the employer must make sure each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to hazards such as flying particles.
“The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles”
In construction, where no infirmary, clinic, hospital or physician is reasonably accessible, a person with valid first aid training must be available at the worksite to render first aid.
“a person who has a valid certificate in first-aid training from the U.S. Bureau of Mines, the American Red Cross, or equivalent training that can be verified by documentary evidence, shall be available at the worksite to render first aid.”
In construction, the safety program must provide for frequent and regular inspections of job sites, materials and equipment by competent persons the employer designates. On sunny days, check water, shade and break areas as part of those inspections.
“Such programs shall provide for frequent and regular inspections of the job sites, materials, and equipment to be made by competent persons designated by the employers.”
Common questions
Questions people ask
What is a good sunscreen safety moment?
Ask the crew when they last put on sunscreen and when they last reapplied it. Then share one tip: put it on before you start, cover ears, neck and hands, and reapply during the day. This page has the full talk.
What should a toolbox talk on sun protection cover?
Cover sunscreen, clothing and hats, eye protection, shade and break timing, water, signs of heat illness, and skin checks. Keep it to about five minutes and end with a question.
Is there a sun safety toolbox talk I can print?
Yes. This page is a free printable sun safety toolbox talk in English and Spanish with a sign-in table. You can read it aloud from a printout or a phone.
Is there a sun safety presentation?
The free talk on this page works as a short spoken presentation. For slides, a trainer guide, a quiz and a sign-in sheet, order the training kit or request a custom one.
Does OSHA have a rule about sun exposure or sunscreen?
OSHA has no specific standard for sun exposure or sunscreen. The general duty to train still applies, and in construction an adequate supply of drinking water must be provided.
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You can print, share and adapt this talk at no cost under the Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Please credit ToolboxKits with a link.