Secure scaffolding, check. Hardhat and steel-toecap boots, check. Factor 20 suncreen, check?

A County Down construction firms is taking a novel step to protect its brickies, by offering free sun cream.

Downpatrick-based Polly Group wants to safeguard its staff from harmful rays as the summer months get into full swing.

The firm has joined forces with a local pharmacy to offer staff creams with SPF ranging from 20 to 50, for when then are working outdoors.

Polly Group's Health and Safety Officer, Colm Murtagh, told the BBC he had been surprised by the positive response from site workers.

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"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," said Mr Murtagh.

Northern Ireland had some of the warmest days on record last month, and usually the first people to suffer from the damaging affects of the constant glare are those who work outside.

Polly's Mr Murtagh has recognised a cultural change in the building trade.

"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," Mr Murtagh explained to the BBC.

Site foremen have been asked by the company to lead by example.

(PR/JM)