Research from roof systems manufacturer Marley has found that one in five outdoor construction workers only apply sunscreen when conditions feel hot or sunny, leaving them exposed to harmful UV radiation on cooler days when the risk is often just as high.

Marley has launched its 2026 Safe in the Sun campaign to highlight the vital importance of sun protection for outdoor construction workers.

The company's recent survey of 250 outdoor workers across roofing, landscaping and rendering found that while awareness of sun safety has grown over recent years, gaps between knowledge and behaviour still exist.

Therefore, to raise further awareness of safe outdoor working, Marley's 2026 Safe in the Sun campaign encourages roofers and outdoor construction workers to think of sun protection in the same way they think of PPE: as a routine essential, like a hard hat or hi-vis vest.

The survey found that more than four in five respondents (83%) said they use sunscreen while working outdoors, and nearly two-thirds (68%) already consider it a form of PPE. Protective clothing, hats and UV-rated safety glasses are also widely used across the workforce. Yet just 31% of workers apply sunscreen every day during summer, and only 26% do so consistently across both spring and summer, the two seasons when UV exposure is at its highest. While more than a fifth (21%) admitted to applying sunscreen only when it felt hot or sunny, and 4% said they only apply it when they remember. 

Nancy Lloyd, Channel Marketing Manager at Marley, explained: "For more than two decades, our Safe in the Sun campaign has championed sun safety for outdoor workers. During that time, the campaign has heightened awareness of the dangers of UV exposure and encouraged better practice in this area among roofers and outdoor workers.

"However, while these improvements are encouraging, it is clear there are still gaps between awareness, intention and action, meaning there is more still to be done to ensure every outdoor worker is properly protected."

Elsewhere, the research found that barriers remain when it comes to the application of sunscreen on site. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said they sometimes forget to apply sunscreen, while more than a third (34%) stated it was a hassle to apply sunscreen all the time. Meanwhile, more than a quarter (27%) admitted to feeling awkward applying sunscreen on site, and nearly the same amount (23%) said they try to make sunscreen last because it is expensive. 

Encouragingly, nearly four in five (79%) said they wore a hat or cap when not wearing a hard hat, while 58% use safety glasses with UV protection, and 54% cover up with clothing such as a T-shirt or long sleeves.  

Lloyd continued: "What the findings of the survey reveal is that while awareness and adoption of sun protection are generally strong, best practice is not yet universal. 

"That is why it is up to everyone involved, from business owners, site managers and individual workers themselves, to view sunscreen as they view other items like hard hats or hi-vis vests, which are already regarded without a second thought as essential PPE."

To claim a Safe in the Sun giveaway, visit: marley.co.uk/safeinthesun