Sun protection in the workplace

Australia has one of the world’s highest rates of skin cancer. Outdoor workers receive five to 10 times more UV exposure than indoor workers each year and around 200 melanomas and 34,000 non-melanoma skin cancers are caused from occupational exposure each year.

Occupational exposure to UV does not only occur by direct sun exposure, but via reflection from surfaces and scattering of UV through the atmosphere.

Between 2000 and 2009, a total of 1360 workers compensation claims for sun-related injury/disease were made in Australia, at a total cost of $38.4 million. The number and cost of compensation claims relating to sun-related injury/disease showed an upward trend during this period.

Workplaces have a crucial and legislated role to play in protecting workers, through the provision of protective clothing, equipment and training, reviewing scheduling of work where appropriate and monitoring compliance.

In Victoria, health and safety legislation requires employers, so far as practical, to provide and maintain a working environment that ensures the health and safety of all workers. Workers must cooperate with their workplace’s efforts to ensure their own health and safety, and that of other people.

Workplaces are improving when it comes to protecting their employees from the harmful effects of UV, according to Sue Heward, SunSmart Manager at Cancer Council Victoria.

“More and more employers are recognising the damaging health effects of UV (skin and eye damage and most significantly, skin cancer) and are realising the importance of protecting their employees for the damaging effects from overexposure to the sun in the workplace.

“The SunSmart program here in Victoria has found increased participation in our UV workplace program as more workplaces are recognising the importance of putting UV protection policies in place.

“There is still a lot of work to do when it comes to unprotected sun exposure at the workplace. Research shows that workers in industries including agriculture, forestry, construction, transport and education have high rates of exposure and industries can be doing more when it comes to sun protection for their workers.”

Strategies for protection

Prevention is always better than cure. In consultation with health and safety representatives and employees, SunSmart advises that employers should identify UV exposure hazards and introduce control measures to reduce exposure.

SunSmart recommends that workplaces have a comprehensive UV protection program in place that includes:

• conducting periodic assessment of the UV exposure risk to all workers;
• providing information, instruction, training and supervision for workers;
• providing sun protection control measures in line with occupational hazard controls - provide shade, modify reflective surfaces, reschedule outdoor work programs, provide personal protective equipment and clothing (broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses, clothing, sunscreen);
• developing a sun-protection policy, documenting control measures, that is endorsed by senior management;
• implementing a monitoring and review process to determine the effectiveness of control measures and identify changes that may further reduce exposure.

“A comprehensive sun protection strategy should include an assessment of the UV radiation exposure risk to employees, a written policy and educating employees on SunSmart behaviours. It should also cover sun protection measures, including shade, scheduling outdoor work outside peak UV times and providing protective clothing including hats, sunglasses and SPF 30+ or higher,” said Heward.

“Through a combination of guidelines and policy, worker education and workplace resources, the risk of skin cancer in the workplace can be substantially reduced.”

Advice and action

To protect workers from the harmful effects of the sun, workers and employers can check the daily sun protection times. The sun protection times are issued whenever the UV is due to reach 3 and above, which is the level when UV is damaging. During these times or if workers are due to be outdoors for extended periods, try to:

• reschedule work, where feasible, to minimise UV exposure by minimising outdoor work, doing outdoor jobs undercover or in the morning and late afternoon, sharing outdoor tasks and making use of shade;
• provide and use shade;
• provide and use protective clothing (long sleeves, collared t-shirts, broad-brimmed hats, hard hat attachments and sunglasses);
• advise and remind outdoor workers to apply broad-spectrum 30+ sunscreen and re-apply every two hours.

If self-employed, it’s best to look after yourself and use a combination of sun protection measures. Tax deductions may be available for sun protection products if you are required to work outside - talk to your tax advisor or the Australian Taxation Office on 13 28 61 or ato.gov.au.

Resources

Employers can access the free SunSmart UV Alert widget from cancer.org.au and add it to their website homepage. The widget shows the daily weather, sun protection times, UV level and temperature specific to the site’s location.

State and territory Cancer Councils offer a range of information on working safely in the sun, and support for workplaces and managers. In Victoria, SunSmart has a range of workplace education and in-service training available for Victorian workplaces.

For more info about SunSmart’s workplace education program offered to Victorian workplaces, visit sunsmart.com.au.

To find out information for your state or territory, visit cancer.org.au.