Outdoor Workers' Perceptions of the Risks of Excess Sun‐Exposure

Abstract

To describe the pattern of associations with sunscreen use of sun protection attitudes and knowledge in a large sample of New Zealand outdoor workers. We also examined the relationship between perceived skin type and perceived risk of developing skin cancer. Methods: Outdoor workers from nine occupational groups (n=1,131) completed a questionnaire, which included measures of skin cancer related risk perceptions, knowledge and sunscreen use. Results: Sunscreen use was associated with perceived prioritization of sunprotection, concern about sun-exposure, knowledge about the effects of sun-exposure and perceived supportive workplace culture. These variables accounted for 37% of the variation in sunscreen use. Maori, younger workers and forestry workers least likely to report sunscreen use and sun-exposure risk perception. Conclusions: Interventions that strengthen knowledge about risks and values of sun protection are likely to increase sun protection efforts. However, interventions for outdoor workers need to take into account potential socio-demographic, personal and workplace influences are required to prevent the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancers within this population group.

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

“…The optimal approach is likely to be a comprehensive one 26) , that addresses personal factors as part of a broader program promoting the development of workplace contexts that positively support sun protection 43) . Although we found that the Pro-Tan Attitude Score was negatively associated with protective practices, indicating that attitudes merit attention, this study both confirms and extends our earlier findings about the relatively strong association of workplace equipment provision and supportive culture with workers' sun protection 24,41) , confirming that employer-led interventions may offer a potentially promising direction for policy development and implementation 25) . Our results strongly suggest that workplace factors are likely to be among the most influential in achieving appropriate sun protection, albeit with worker cooperation, and that educational efforts to change workers' knowledge and attitudes, alone, are unlikely to be sufficient to significantly improve sun-protective behaviors.…”

“…Given the lack of an outdoor occupation database 24) , a clustered survey design was employed whereby individual employers and companies in the Auckland, Waikato and Hawke's Bay regions of the North Island (Auckland is the most populous city, and the North Island the most populated island) were identified at random from trade directories (Yellow Pages ™ http:// www.yellow.co.nz/ and Universal Business Directories http://www.ubd.co.nz/). For eight occupations, a letter was sent to workplace managers outlining study intentions and requirements for participation.…”

“…A high proportion of workers were not required to wear sun protection, regardless of skin type and high levels of sun exposure 20) . Perceived workplace support for sun protection is positively associated with sunscreen use and sun protection among NZ workers 24) , which suggests that employer-led interventions may offer a potentially promising direction for policy development and implementation 25) . Nevertheless, comprehensive programs aimed at both employers and employees are considered likely to have greatest impact on protective practices 26) .…”

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

“…26,27 It has been shown that employer-led interventions may lead to an increase in the use of sun-protective measures by outdoor workers. 28 Potential sunburn risk among outdoor workers in South Africa based on ambient solar UVR readings has been estimated in a study. 1 The study concluded that, for almost all seasons, locations considered and six skin types, there was at least one day (but usually many more days) when outdoor workers were at risk of sunburn; however, it also was concluded that real-time measurements of outdoor workers' exposure were needed to validate these findings.…”

What Encourages Sun Protection among Outdoor Workers from Four Industries?

“…Occupational sun exposure has been shown to have a strong relationship with the development of NMSCs 3,4) , and may be linked to melanoma 5) . The association between outdoor work and skin cancers may be mediated by high levels of sun exposure, combined with inadequate use and poor uptake of sun protective measures inside and outside work hours 6) . We aimed to identify current practice of sun protection and factors associated with effective use in four outdoor worker industries in Queensland, Australia.…”