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Workers Health Evaluation Network

SKIN PROTECTION:
"Prevention is better than cure."
Sun exposure is a major hazard for outdoor workers. The first step is to identify work situations where employers are exposed to the sun. You should then assess the amount of exposure and decide on measures to control this hazard.

Protective measures:
To protect yourselves from the sun, you may need to use one or more preventive measures.

(a) Change the job site
Can the job be moved indoors or to a new location, which is outside but in the shade?

(b) Provide shade
Where the job cannot be changed, you may be able to provide shelter from direct sunlight. There are a number of options here:

• Natural or existing shade,
  Use the shade of existing buildings and other structures at the worksite.
  Natural features such as trees and shrubs may also provide limited cover.
• Textile or coated textile fabrics
  Put up fabrics (such as canvas, sailcloth and awing or umbrella fabric) or use ready-made canopies. These fabrics are generally tightly woven and have an all-weather coating.
  Heavy textile covers block out most light, giving around 99% UV protection.
• Tents or umbrellas
  Check the UV protection of tent and umbrella before buying them.
  Be aware that the more open the shelter structure is, the more UV radiation gets in.
• Synthetic shadecloths
  • These allow some sunlight through
  • Shadecloths giving less than 94% cover factor may allow enough UV radiation through to cause skin damage.
  • Personal protective equipment will also need to be used as UV radiation may pass through the shade material or reflect off the ground and other surfaces.
• Rotate work
  • Try to rotate work so that you are not exposed all of the time to the sun
  • The highest risk time in the sun is from 10am to 2pm.
  • Make sure there is a shaded area for lunch and tea breaks.
• Personal protection equipment
  Outdoor workers should be provided with sun protective work clothing
  • Shirts should be loose and long-sleeved with collars.
  • Long trousers or skirts are best.
  • If shorts must be worn, they should be to the knee.
  • The fabric should be close-weave and not let light through (as this means UV radiation will also get through.)
  • Natural fibres such as cotton are more comfortable as they allow sweat to evaporate better than synthetic fabrics do.
• A hat or appropriate headgear
  • These should shade the head, face, neck and ears.
  • Hats should have a broad brim (8 to 10 cm wide) and be of a close-weave material.
  • Attach a flap of fabric to the back of the to protect the neck during bending: this flap should cover the ears also.
  • A broad brim and flap should be attached to hard hats for
    outdoor work.
• Sunglasses
  • These should fit closely to the face and meet Australian Standards
  • Wrap around style glasses provides the best protection. Effective sunglasses can screen out up to 99% of UV radiation.
• Sunscreen
  • A broad spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15+ should be used.
  • This should be applied generously to all exposed skin at least 20 minutes before you go outside.
  • 15+ sunscreens generally provide two hours of protection in the summertime.
  • Sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly as it easily wipes, sweats and washes off

SKIN PROTECTION IS IMPORTANT ALL YEAR ROUND,
NOT JUST IN SUMMER

For further information, please contact when@skincancercentre.com