Builders adopt slip, slap, slop

Downpatrick builders will have no excuse for sunburn this year

A Downpatrick construction company is making sure that its employees look after their skin as the summer fast approaches.

The Polly Group has joined with a local pharmacy chain in an initiative to protect its workers skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

Employees will now be given suncreen with an SPF ranging from 20 to 50 to use when working outdoors.

Colm Murtagh, Health and Safety officer from The Polly Group, told BBC News he was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of the men on site.

"Initially we didn't know what way the boys would react to it, but as time has gone on, people understand that skin cancer, especially in men has risen a lot over this last number of years," he said.

Recent good weather has highlighted the danger of over exposure to the sun

Mr Murtagh also said that the building industry was experiencing change.

"There has been a culture, I think, over this past number of years that the building industry is a macho sort of industry.

"The culture is changing and people are understanding that their health is a lot more important than having this macho image

"The boys on site go on holiday in foreign lands and have no problem putting on sunscreen. So we thought there was no problem putting it on here when the temperature, especially this summer, can be as high as foreign places," he said.

The company is encouraging all site foremen to set an example to their workers.