Working outdoors in Australia has its risks. With our extreme summer days, Australian workers need to play it smart and protect themselves from the blazing sun – even when the weather is not extreme continuous exposure to UV radiation is dangerous. Throughout Australia every summer we see countless cases of heat stroke, severe dehydration and skin cancers; all in which can be avoided with a little care. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world with more than 380,000 people treated annually.
Ways to avoid the deadly UV sun rays include:
- Re-organising work to avoid the hottest times of the day.
- Seeking natural or artificial shade.
- Wearing appropriate protective clothing for example – clothing that covers as much exposed skin as possible, hats and sunglasses.
- Applying sunscreen.
- Share outdoor and indoor work to minimise individual exposure.
The Australian Cancer Council offers a free online course to help GP's, Health practitioners; OHS professionals and workers understand their exposure to carcinogens. The Australian Cancer Council provided a wealth of knowledge on their website including types and how to identify cancer, preventing cancer, covering up in the sun, early detection and much more.
Website - cancer.org.au
The Australian cancer council also has an e-learning training portal that anyone can use for free. Complete the course through the following link and receive your Certificate to become more sun safe or even help comply with your sun exposure policies.
Site - e-learning.cancer.org.au
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Sun Safety for Outdoor Workers