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Summer Protection
Summer Sun Safety at Work
The turning of the clocks for daylight savings is usually the first sign that summer is fast approaching. As the weather begins to warm up and the sun's rays start to get stronger and harsher, it is vitally important that we pay close attention to sun safety especially at work. There are many ways that the sun can affect our wellbeing whilst at work. Just a few of these include damage to the eyes, the skin, heat exposure and dehydration.
Currently Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Every year, nearly 1,300 Australians die of it. The main cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun. People who work outdoors are particularly at risk. If you're outside a lot with work, or have employees who are, then ensure that they have adequate protection to protect against sun damage.
Eye Protection
Continuous exposure to the sun’s rays can cause serious damage to your eyes. With Australia’s harsh climate, we are all aware of the risk of skin cancer but not everyone knows that over exposure to UV radiation can lead to impaired vision.
A good pair of sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat can make a difference. UV damage accumulates over a person’s lifetime so ensuring that you are protected at all times is highly important.
The Australian Standard for sunglasses is one of the best in the world. Not all sunglasses sold in Australia meet this standard, so always check the label to make sure and remember that sunglasses do not have to be expensive to meet the standard. Many of the clear safety spectacles that are traditionally worn for eye protection within the workplace come in a range of different tints which can be worn outdoors and come with a very high level of UV protection.
Skin Protection
This year, almost 300,000 Australians will visit a doctor or specialist to have a skin cancer (or cancers) removed. The sun emits three types of ultraviolet radiation ?UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA penetrates deep into the skin causing damage like wrinkles and discolouration. Exposure to UVB causes sunburn, which whether severe or mild, can cause permanent and irreversible skin damage and is known to be the primary cause of skin cancer. Cumulative exposure to UV radiation and the number of severe sunburns received, especially during childhood, increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Personal risk to sun damage can be largely averted by avoiding the sun during the middle of the day, or where this is impractical or is a necessary component of your workplace, then the best form of protection is by covering up with appropriate safety clothing, headgear (such as sun hats and safety glasses), and by using SPF 30+ sunscreen.
Heat Exposure and Dehydration
Prolonged exposure to heat can cause heat stress on the body which is the aggregate of environmental and physical work factors or conditions that constitute the total heat load imposed on the body. It can lead to a number of heat illnesses ranging from mild (heat cramps) to life threatening (such as heat stroke). The more serious illnesses of heat exhaustion and heat stroke can lead to serious down time with the employee or worker and constitute a significant cost to the business both in lost earning potential and medical expense costs. Heat stroke is caused by a rise in body core temperature to dangerous levels of 41 degrees celcius and higher.
To avoid heat stress, the golden rule for people in hot conditions who may be feeling weak or faint is to stop work immediately, take in fluids and cool down. Some effective controls for heat stress within the work place can include regular short breaks out of the sun, having plenty of fluids readily available and providing adequate sun protection such as protective clothing and headgear.
If you are responsible for sun safety within your workplace, then the following checklist will provide you with a quick and easy guide to assist you in ensuring that you meet your obligations.
Workplace Checklist
You can also download a copy of “Sun Safety At Work: Policy on protection from Ultraviolet radiation for Outdoor Workers?which will provide you with valuable information on what is expected.
Workplace Guide
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