Solar UV Radiation Risk Management
Australia can endure some very hot temperatures. Records for Australia going back to the 1800s reveal that there were some months across Australia where the temperatures were over 50 degrees for weeks on end. Newspapers at the time reported that people were literally dropping dead in the street. These were not isolated events. New South Wales saw its fair share of 50+ degree days in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It hasn't been as hot in more recent times, but our summers can still be quite blistering!
Forgotten history: 50 degrees everywhere, right across Australia in the 1800s « JoNova (joannenova.com.au)
During the summer months UV radiation levels are at their highest and so is the risk of radiation. The results of two recent studies about solar UV radiation and the inadequate application of risk controls in Australia have raised some concern. About 90% of the workers surveyed were not using adequate controls.
This might be a good time to revisit this issue by reviewing the effectiveness of the risk controls for UV radiation in your workplace.
This article deals with the results of the above studies and appropriate risk controls. It also contains information that is also relevant to your workers in their personal life as well as their workday activities.
The Research Results
1. The Cancer Council National Sun Survey
In September the Cancer Council released the results of its National Sun Survey. That survey showed that 35% of adults in NSW did not realise that UV radiation is the only cause of sunburn and the major cause of skin cancer. It is not temperature or any other reason. UV radiation is an invisible danger.
It seems unlikely that the 35% of adults in this study would be taking consistent steps to protect themselves against UV radiation.
2. The Australian Work Exposures Study
The University of West Australia surveyed 5528 workers aged 18 to 65 about what methods they used to protect themselves against UV radiation. Safe Work Australia used the survey results to compile and publish in May 2016, three separate reports about the Manufacturing, Construction, and Agricultural Industries.
The reports show that the % of workers in Agriculture using adequate controls to prevent UV radiation exposure is only 10%. In Construction it was 8%, and in Manufacturing it was 7%. That means about 90% of the workers in the study are not using adequate controls!
Safe Work Australia’s, Guide on Exposure to Solar UV Radiation, states that combining control measures is the most effective way of preventing exposure.
Your Workplace and Resources for Handling
The above studies indicate that there is an unsatisfactory level of implementation actions to prevent skin cancer for workers and a high level of confusion amongst Australian adults about what causes sunburn and skin cancer.
Here are some recommended resources. We hope these will help you.
Get the UV Index reading daily:
For further information, or for help with your WHS management system, please feel free to contact us at train@courtenell.com.au or phone us on 02 9552 2066.
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