Are you SunSmart?

30 November 2010

Corporate Health Group (CHG) has warned outdoor workers of the risks posed by rising UV levels over summer and reminds people on work sites to heed the SunSmart practices recommended by Cancer Council SA.

Over the past couple of years MAQOHSC has funded a skin screening program designed to detect possible skin cancers among the state’s mining and quarrying workforce.

Every year approximately 440,000 Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer.

Renee Rohde, Program Coordinator from CHG, says it’s not always the summer scorchers that do the most damage.

“Most people burn when the temperature is below 27 degrees, so even if it is cloudy or cool, if you are working outdoors it’s best to be SunSmart.

Particular care should be taken between 10.00am and 3.00pm when UV index levels peak"

While outdoors workers are particularly at risk from year round UV exposure, those of us who have underground or office based jobs also risk skin damage which could result in skin cancer, even from short exposures during the peak UV season.

Beware the UV

To minimise sun damage, protect your skin in five ways when the UV Alert is three or above:

• Slip on sun protective clothing
• Slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen
• Slap on a hat
• Seek shade
• Slide on some sunglasses

More information

SunSmart UV Alerts appear on the weather page of The Advertiser and some regional newspapers, television weather segments and are available on the Bureau of Meteorology website at www.bom.gov.au.

For more SunSmart information check Cancer Council SA’s website at www.cancersa.org.au/aspx/sunsmart.aspx