It’s officially Summer and the silly season is upon us! From family BBQ’s and beach days, to working outside in the heat – we all have to be sun smart to protect our skin from UV radiation.
According to SunSmart (2021), the sun’s UV radiation is a serious health and safety hazard – especially for people who work outdoors. Australia has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world and daily UV exposure adds to increased risk of cancer.
It is estimated that approximately 200 melanomas and 34,000 other skin cancers diagnosed each year in Australia are the result of UV exposure in the workplace (SunSmart, 2021).
However, most skin cancers can be avoided – here’s some tips on how to care for your skin with the slip, slop, slap, seek and slide approach!
- Slip on clothing – Clothing can be a great barrier between the sun’s UV and your skin.
- Slop on sunscreen – Sunscreen should be considered the last line of defence. No sunscreen blocks 100% of UV radiation.
- Slap on a hat – look for a hat with a tight weave and broad brim that provides good shade to your face, head, neck and ears.
- Seek shade – Shade can be natural, built or portable.
- Slide on sunglasses – Choose a close fitting, wrap-around style of sunglasses.
Workplace Skin Checks:
Skin checks are vital for early detection of skin cancer and are an essential inclusion in any workplace wellness program. To enhance your employee health and wellness benefits, our trained skin doctors can provide a workplace skin check to your employees in 15 minutes – this involves the use of special lighting and tools to assess the whole body for spots or any areas of concern.
Please email [email protected] or call 0456 387 569 to discuss options for your workplace.