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Health and Safety: Sunscreens

Asked by Gregory StaffordConservativeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 81735

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will mandate the Health and Safety Executive to issue updated guidance on outdoor working and sun exposure to include the use of high factor sunscreen.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) currently provides guidance for outdoor workers and sun exposure on both its main website pages and as a short leaflet entitled Keep your top on - Health risks from working in the sun (INDG147), both of which recommend the use of high-factor sunscreen.

I have directed HSE to update its own guidance so that it aligns with the advice provided by the NHS of using sunscreen of at least SPF30.

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