Keep your workers shielded in the sun

Employers are being reminded about their responsibility to protect staff from the sun as much as possible during the summer months.
Toi Te Ora WorkWell adviser Michelle Barns said New Zealand had the highest rate of melanoma in the world and skin cancer was the most common form of cancer in this country.
Given that 15 per cent of the New Zealand workforce operate outdoors, she said it was important for management to support sun-safe practices as part of the workplace culture.
"Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992), employers must take all practicable steps to protect the health and safety of employees.
"If you have employees working outdoors, this means you must protect them from injury from the sun."
WorkWell is an initiative launched in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes region in April, becoming New Zealand's first accredited healthy workplace programme. It has been working with the Health Sponsorship Council and Cancer Society to create the WorkWell Sun Safety Toolkit, which should be available to members by Christmas.
It is expected to be particularly useful to organisations with staff who work outdoors, such as roading or construction workers, horticultural workers, and tradespeople.
But Barns said sun safety was also important for employees who go outside at lunchtimes and during breaks.
Health Sponsorship Council sun smart manager Wayde Beckman said progress on the kit had been steady and the group hoped to have the toolkit on the WorkWell website and incorporated into the programme's resources before Christmas.
Beckman said there was more to sun protection than using sunscreen and wearing a hat.
"People who work outdoors need to drink plenty of water to replace fluid lost through perspiration - particularly if the tasks involve hard physical work."
From September to April, he said ultra-violet radiation levels were generally high enough between 11am and 4pm to cause sunburn and skin damage - even on cloudy or cool days.
WorkWell has grown to 29 workplaces and 18 health services.
STAY SAFE
Top tips for working safely outside during the summer
1. Reduce your exposure to the sun by working in shaded areas and, whenever possible, take breaks in the shade.
2. Cover up with long pants and a long-sleeved, collared shirt.
3. Wear a hat that protects your head, face, neck and ears and use a brim attachment with a neck flap with a hard hat or helmet.
4. Apply broad spectrum, SPF30+ sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
5. Wear close fitting, wrap-around sunglasses that cover the whole eye area.
- Cancer Society