SunSmart is urging Victorian workplaces to treat ultraviolet (UV) radiation as the serious occupational hazard that it is.
The call is backed by a new Cancer Council Victoria survey, showing while most Victorian businesses with outdoor workers do have a sun protection policy, 1 in 5 (21%) still do not.
This is despite Australia having the highest skin cancer rates in the world, and the survey findings clearly showing a sun protection policy leads to better sun safety behaviours and practices in the workplace.
According to the survey, businesses with a policy were more likely to provide outdoor workers with potentially life-saving sun protection gear, such as UV-protective clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses and hats, compared to workplaces without a policy.
Head of SunSmart, Emma Glassenbury, said it’s positive to see majority of workplaces taking sun protection seriously, but given the clear benefits, SunSmart wants to ensure every Victorian workplace with outdoor workers has a sun protection policy in place.
“You wouldn’t expect workplaces to cut corners on safety measures like hard hats, hi-vis vests or steel-capped boots. But according to this new data, some Victorian employers are still skipping policies and practices that protect workers from a serious safety hazard – the sun’s UV rays.”
For information, resources, policy support and training for workplaces, visit www.sunsmart.com.au/advice-for/workplaces
Image: Sunset Dusk Sun Sky – Free photo on Pixabay
