Planning for Shade in Your Workplace

Workplaces can also add shade to their environment. Consider adding shade to the outdoor spaces in your workplace such as patios, entrance ways and outdoor eating areas. Also consider including the provision of shade for outdoor workers and outdoor events.

Conduct a shade audit to identify existing shade areas and determine where additional shade is needed. The provision of shade, either from natural shade trees, built shade from awnings, tents, canopies, umbrellas or gazebos are effective ways to provide protection from the sun

You may consider developing a policy to ensure that outdoor events are sun safe.
Sun safety policy for planning outdoor events should include:

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• Assessing the site for existing shade

• Utilizing additional portable shade structures such as umbrellas or tents

• Ensuring staff are able to rotate tasks between shaded or indoor areas and outdoors activities. Avoid having the same people exposed to the direct rays of the sun all day

• Providing sun safety information through event registration. Encourage participants to take personal sun protection measures of wearing hats, protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen

• Encouraging event organizers to role model sun safe behaviours