Occupational Sun Protection: Workplace Culture, Equipment Provision and Outdoor Workers' Characteristics

Abstract

Occupational Sun Protection: Workplace Culture, Equipment Provision and Outdoor Workers' Characteristics: Anthony I. REEDER, et al. Cancer Society of New Zealand Social and Behavioral Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand— Objectives The aim of this study was to describe outdoor workers' sun‐protective practices, workplace sun‐safety culture and sun‐protective equipment provision; investigate the association of demographic, personal and occupational factors with sun‐protective practices; and identify potential strategies for improving workers' sun protection. Methods The present study used a clustered survey design with randomly identified employers in nine occupations. Employees provided questionnaire measures of demographics, personal characteristics (skin type, skin cancer risk perceptions, tanning attitudes, sun‐exposure knowledge), personal occupational sun protection practices (exposure reduction, use of sun‐protective clothing, sunscreen and shade), workplace sun‐protective equipment provision and perceived workplace sun‐safety culture. Summative scores were calculated for attitudes, knowledge, work place provision and culture. Amultivariable model was built with worker and workplace variables as plausible predictors of personal sun protection. Results In this study, 1,061 workers (69% participation) from 112 workplaces provided sufficient information for analysis. Sex, age, prioritized ethnicity, education and risk perception differed significantly between occupational groups (p<0.001), as did workers' sun‐protective practices and workplace sun‐protection equipment provision and supportive culture. After adjustment, each one‐point increase in Workplace Sun‐safety Culture Score (range 12 points) was associated with a 0.16 higher Personal Sun‐Protection Score (p<0.001), and each one‐point increase in Workplace Provision Score (range 4 points) was associated with a 0.14 higher score (p<0.001). Sun Protection Score was significantly associated with skin response to sun exposure (p<0.001), female sex (p=0.021), tanning attitudes (p=0.022) and occupation (p=0.049), but not ethnicity, age education, knowledge or skin cancer risk perception. Conclusions Protective equipment provision and sun‐protective workplace culture are promising components for the development of comprehensive programmes to improve outdoor workers' sun‐protective practices.

Real-time measurement of outdoor worker’s exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation in Pretoria, South Africa

“…Another study conducted by Holman et al 30 found that some outdoor workers were exposed to 44.85% of ambient solar UVR and also that different parts of the outdoor worker's body were exposed to different levels of solar UVR. 25,30,31 These results are within the range of our findings in the current study. …”

“…Reducing sun exposure is not a feasible option for outdoor workers. 25 Studies among New Zealand and Australian outdoor workers found that sun protection is not seen as a priority. Poor and inconsistent sun protection measures are employed and many outdoor workers find certain measures (such as wearing hats and clothing that covers exposed areas) inconvenient to use while working.…”

Occupational skin cancer: Systematic review

“…7,8,10,[12][13][14][15][16] Most of the articles that analyzed the epidemiological profile noted that workers who had risk factors for occupational skin cancer have, in general, a low level of education, which is consistent with the literature, given that this favors these professionals not being aware of the risk factors for skin cancer and preventive measures. Also, the lower the educational level, the greater the tendency to work for larger periods, whether hours or days of work, than those with a higher level of education.…”

“…Also, the lower the educational level, the greater the tendency to work for larger periods, whether hours or days of work, than those with a higher level of education. 15,[17][18][19] For Hammond et al, 14 their study observed professions at risk of skin cancer, who were builders, gardeners and road workers. These had a larger percentage of workers with secondary education, noting that they had a greater knowledge of preventive measures against skin cancer, since those who had an average risk of developing this neoplasm protected themselves less than those with a high risk.…”

Workloads and strain process in Community Health Agents

“…A study with 1061 individuals who work outdoors found that personal protective equipment supply and the organizational culture of solar protection are components that contribute for adopting sun protection practices (28) .…”