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Workplace Health and Safety: Is your workplace 'SunSmart'?
By Ralph Mitchell
There is a growing awareness of workplace responsibility in the seafood industry. A claim of negligence can leave an employer exposed to expensive litigation, even if they have done nothing wrong. This is not restricted to actual workplace activities, but includes other practices as well. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1995 (Tasmania) both employers and employees have responsibilities to reduce the risk of all types of injury and other risks to health.
Sun Exposure
A perfect example of a workplace practice that should be an integral part of this industry is the care and protection of workers who are exposed to the sun. With the hole in the ozone layer allowing excessive UV radiation through to ground level, coupled with the fact that the vast majority of workers in the seafood industry are on or near the water for a lot of their working hours, the protection of exposed skin should be paramount. Australians have the highest rate of skin cancers in the world. This is a potentially fatal disease, primarily caused by the skin being exposed to too much UV radiation from direct and indirect sunlight, yet it is estimated that 90% of skin cancers could potentially have been avoided simply by reducing exposure to the sun.
Reflected Sunlight
Reflected sunlight from the surface of the water means that it is not just the skin on the upper surface of the body that is at risk. The lighter skin on the underside of the body (such as the underside of arms or chin) is also very vulnerable as the UV rays reflect back up from the water. All outdoor workers are at risk of developing skin cancers.
Considering the warnings and awareness campaigns such as 'Slip, Slop, Slap' that have been run for two decades or more in this country, it is 'stating the obvious' to tell those at risk to use appropriate protection from the sun. However, there are still many who think that skin cancer is something that will only happen to someone else, or only happens to older people after years of exposure. Regardless of these attitudes, employers and employees alike have a responsibility to ensure that maximum practical protection from the sun is a part of normal workplace practice.
Employers
Employers must ensure that their workplaces and systems are safe, with appropriate supervision and training where necessary.
Employees
Employees also have duty-of-care responsibilities. These include complying with employer's instructions, especially those that are given for reasons of health and safety. An employee should not engage in 'risk-taking behaviour'. This 'risk-taking' easily includes working outdoors with inadequate skin protection from the sun, as this activity has a high risk of causing skin damage or skin cancer.
SunSmart
Sunsmart is the skin cancer control program of The Cancer Council of Tasmania. It is squarely aimed at the reduction of skin cancers affecting Tasmanians. The SunSmart Workplace Program supports and assists organisations to reduce any risks that employees may face associated with occupational exposure UV radiation in sunlight.
There could be an added benefit from holding a presentation for employees. Many skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to sunlight during childhood and adolescent years. Raising an awareness of the danger of skin cancer in the workplace is very likely to see that knowledge translated into the family or leisure situation as well. This is a very positive benefit for all concerned.
Workplace SunSmart Presentations
The Cancer Council Tasmania conducts SunSmart presentations, customised to the needs of the target group with particular emphasis towards those who work outdoors being exposed to excessive radiation from the sun.
The cost of each course is $150 (plus GST) for a workshop that caters for up to 25 people at once. Trained SunSmart staff can visit your organisation or workplace to conduct an education session dealing with skin cancer issues. Sessions are also available for supervisors, management and/or health and safety professionals.
Through training, staff and employees will be able to:
- gain an understanding of what skin cancer is and how it starts;
- develop an awareness of the personal risks of developing skin cancer,
- understand how skin cancer develops
- discuss control options from the implementation of sun protection practices within the workplace and
- develop responsible strategies for being SunSmart.
Resources
The SunSmart services to industry have a range of useful resources that have been designed to assist in the development, implementation and promotion of sun protection in the workplace. These include information booklets, brochures, fact sheets, posters, videos and a 'How to be SunSmart' CD-ROM.
The value of training such as this far outweighs the minimal cost involved. In an era where workplace health and safety is high on any workplace agenda, it is vitally important to have a workforce or employees who are able to take adequate measures that decrease their exposure to the sun and their risk of developing a skin cancer. It also reduces any risk in the years ahead of someone suddenly blaming a former or current employer for a skin cancer that has become apparent, by saying that there was inadequate supervision or responsibility taken by the employer.
How?
To book a Workplace SunSmart presentation, please contact your Regional Cancer Support Centre:
- Burnie: 6434 6363
- Devonport: 6421 7887
- Launceston: 6336 2030
- Hobart: 6233 2030
For further information, check out the website www.sunsmart.com.au
There is a Cancer Helpline available in Tasmania. Call 13 11 20. Experienced staff can provide up-to-date information about cancer, from early detection and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and management for all types of cancer.
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