BACKGROUND
People who work outdoors receive up to ten times more sun exposure than indoor workers, putting them at greater risk of developing skin cancer. While employers have responsibilities under work health and safety legislation to provide safe environments, this may not always be practiced in relation to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. This study sought to measure the types and extent of sun protection provided by employers to West Australian (WA) workers.
METHODS
More than 500 WA adults who worked outdoors during daylight hours for at least 1 hour per workday completed an online survey. Respondents reported their sun protection actions taken at work and the types of sun protection provided by employers. Results were compared by employment sector (public, private) and employment industry.
RESULTS
Less than half of workers said they wore a broad-brimmed hat (41%) or applied sunscreen (47%) when working outdoors. Public sector workers were significantly more likely to wear hats, while private sector workers were significantly more likely to wear sun protective clothing. Less than half of workers said their employer provided sunscreen, sun protective clothing, or a broad-brimmed hat. Workers in the mining industry reported higher levels of employer-provided sun protection than other industries such as education or healthcare. One in five said their employer did nothing to help reduce their UVR exposure.
CONCLUSION
This study identifies practices to protect workers from UVR overexposure remain far from ideal. Further investment in strategies to support implementation of UVR related health and safety practices is warranted.