Sun Protection

Concept has a strong focus on safety. We work in conjunction with our labour hire employees and host clients to develop robust actions to prevent or minimise the potential for a hazard to cause harm. Each month we will be releasing a ‘Tool Box Topic’ via the website for review and information which is easy for our employees to access. This month we are discussing the summer months and the need to protect yourself from the sun while working..

Making the workplace safe includes instructions, procedures, training, and supervision to encourage people to work safely and responsibly. Even where safe systems of work have been applied, some hazards might remain. These may cause injuries to:

  • the lungs from breathing in contaminated air
  • the head and feet from falling materials
  • the eyes from flying particles or splashes of corrosive liquids
  • the skin from contact with corrosive materials
  • the body from extremes of heat or cold

In the summer months as the mercury heats up, sun protection is vital as exposure to UV radiation causes skin and eye damage and is also the main cause of skin cancer in Australia. UV radiation is carcinogenic to humans. Employees who work outdoors for all or part of the day are at a greater risk of some skin cancers. All skin types can be damaged by exposure to UV radiation. Damage can be permanent and irreversible and increases with each exposure. Sun protection programs that aim to reduce exposure to UV radiation are important if skin cancer incidence and death rates are to be reduced.

Additionally the impacts and effects of heat on the body need to be monitored closely to ensure the avoidance of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Please take the time to review the PDF document which covers off a little more on the group advice and expectations around Sun Protection. Below is are links to the Cancer Council website which has a heap of further information around sun protection in the workplace and further information on heat exhaustion and heat stroke. We encourage all of our labour hire employees to take a few minutes and familiarise themselves with this information.

https://wiki.cancer.org.au/policy/Position_statement_-Sun(UV)_protection_in_the_workplace#_ga=2.195770156.1291887449.1607642043-937689346.1607642043

Any questions, please contact you local office

For more information, please visit the SunSmart website on the link below:
 https://www.sunsmart.com.au/communities/workplaces

Did you know? Australia experiences some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world.

Ashley Services Group Policy number 01177 2019
http://www.ashleyservicesgroup.com.au/