Leo & UV-U-SEE: The ultimate system for UV protection
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Outdoor workers face many visible risks every day, but one of the most serious is invisible: ultraviolet radiation.
UV exposure is a long-term occupational health risk, particularly for people working outside for extended periods. UK construction workers make up around 8% of the nation’s workforce, yet account for 44% of occupational melanoma deaths. At the same time, 86% of skin cancer is preventable.
That is why UV protection should be treated as an essential part of PPE, not an afterthought.
Protection starts with the clothing
For outdoor workers, the first line of defence should be the clothing they wear every day.
All Leo Workwear garments, excluding waistcoats, provide UPF 40+ protection. This includes every Leo Workwear polo shirt, T-shirt and modesty tunic, giving wearers certified protection from harmful UV radiation while maintaining the visibility, comfort and conformance required on site.
These garments meet EN 13758-2 UPF 40+, the European standard for clothing designed to provide protection against solar ultraviolet radiation.
This matters because sun cream alone should not be relied on as the only form of protection. It can be forgotten, applied too late, missed on key areas or not reapplied often enough. Certified UV protective clothing provides consistent protection to the areas it covers throughout the working day.
For outdoor teams, the approach should be simple:
Cover first. Protect exposed skin. Stay aware when UV levels rise.
Adding UV-U-SEE for greater awareness
Even the best UV protective clothing can only protect the skin it covers. Hands, faces, necks and other exposed areas still need additional protection.
That is where UV-U-SEE adds an important layer of awareness.
The badge reacts to UV levels, giving wearers a visible reminder to apply sun cream and take action when exposure increases. Leo Workwear is now stocking and selling UV-U-SEE badges, which can be ordered individually or supplied already applied to Leo products.
This is especially important for wearers using waistcoats over other clothing. A waistcoat provides high visibility, but the UV protection will depend on what is worn underneath. Adding a UV-U-SEE badge helps keep sun safety visible on site and reminds workers to protect exposed skin throughout the day.
Making an invisible risk visible
UV exposure is easy to underestimate. It can still be a risk on cooler days, in changeable weather or when the sun does not feel especially strong.
The value of UV-U-SEE is that it turns an invisible hazard into a simple visual prompt. When the badge changes colour, it reminds wearers and site teams that UV levels are rising and protection is needed.
That action could include applying or reapplying sun cream, covering exposed skin, taking breaks in shaded areas or reviewing whether the clothing being worn provides suitable UV protection.
A joined-up approach to outdoor safety
UV-U-SEE was launched by Pablo London, with support from organisations including Considerate Constructors Scheme, The National Federation of Builders, LifeJacket Skin Protection and Leo Workwear.
The initiative supports a wider shift in how outdoor worker protection is viewed. Sun safety should not sit separately from PPE, site culture or compliance. It should be built into everyday decisions about what workers wear and how they are protected.
At Leo Workwear, our message is clear: start with garments that provide certified UV protection, then use UV-U-SEE as an additional reminder to protect the areas clothing cannot cover.
Because outdoor workers deserve protection from the risks they can see — and the ones they cannot.
Find out more about UV-U-SEE at Leo Workwear: https://www.leoworkwear.com/uvusee
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