FEATURE PROACTIVE PROTECTION
Summer’s over right? Yes, but just because the kids are back in school and we are well into September it doesn’t mean employers and employees can ignore the sun’s harmful Ultra Violet rays. Alison Carter catches up with Deb Group to find out how UV rays can still cause skin damage even after summer is over.
The common misconception that those working outdoors are only at risk from the sun on a bright day, in the summer months is something skin care specialists Deb are working hard to change. We are now well into September, the kids are back at school and everyone is already busy penning their Christmas lists, but Deb’s Be UV Aware campaign is still going strong.
Deb is working closely with organisations across the UK, including Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall and BAE Systems, to try and protect outdoor workers from sustaining sun damage, as a result of prolonged exposure to the sun’s Ultra Violet rays.
Speaking about the campaign Paul Jakeway, Marketing Director at Deb Group, told Tomorrow’s Health & Safety: “Our campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks people encounter when working outside for a long period of time and how they can protect themselves, by advising employers about the best practice to follow to protect their employees and, if you’re an employee, what the right process to follow is.
“If we are going to reduce the rate of skin cancer in the UK, employers have to take responsibility for supporting their staff, by training and educating them, as well as driving a behavioural change in the employee to do something different.”
According to figures from The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity, Skcin, six people in the UK currently die every day from skin cancer, which is much higher than the numbers recorded in Australia. The IOSH No Time to Lose Solar Radiation Campaign documents skin cancer as the most common cancer in the world and argues that 90% of cases are preventable with the right action.
The Deb Group launched their UV 12
awareness campaign three years ago after forming a partnership with the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Society, Skcin. The charity was founded after the tragic death of Karen Clifford from skin cancer in 2005, in a bid to raise awareness about the dangers associated with prolonged exposure to UV and reduce the increasing rates of skin cancer through education and early detection.
WHAT ARE WE
PROTECTING AGAINST? Before exploring how individuals can protect themselves from UV rays, it is important to understand why they are so harmful, so here goes...
The sun emits three types of invisible rays that are dangerous enough to damage the skin when they reach the earth’s surface; UVA, UVB and UVC. It is these rays which the Deb campaign focuses on, ensuring that employers and employees across the UK are aware that it isn’t the heat or the visibility of the sun which causes the damage; it is the strength of the UV rays.
Deb has created a range of UV boards, complete with protective skin solutions, to enable workplaces to monitor the strength of the UV rays via the UV Index, whilst educating employees and employers on when sun protection is required.
The UV Index is a measuring system introduced by the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Meteorological Organisation, designed to raise awareness of the risks of excessive exposure to UV radiation, and to alert people about the need to adopt protective measures.
The Index measures the level of UV radiation in the sun’s rays with values from zero up to 11. The higher the UV Index the greater the potential for
damage to the skin and eye, and the less time it takes for harm to occur. The index advises what skin protection is required throughout these varying stages - when the UV index is above 3 it means protection is required.
“IF WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE RATE OF SKIN CANCER IN THE UK, EMPLOYERS HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPPORTING THEIR STAFF, BY TRAINING AND EDUCATING THEM.” PAUL JAKEWAY, DEB GROUP
Just because the summer is coming to an end it doesn’t mean in September, and even October, people working outdoors shouldn’t be thinking about protecting themselves from the sun. Even those working in industries such as welding need to be aware all year round, as harmful UVC rays can be artificially created through these types of industrial processes and cause damage.
WHO’S MOST AT RISK? Roofers, electricians, forest workers, farmers, transport drivers, gardeners, landscapers and those working for local authorities are all at risk of skin damage from prolonged exposure to UV, to name a few. Basically any role that entails long spells outdoors involves risks, even lorry or bus drivers could be in danger as it is still possible to get burnt through a windscreen at the height of summer, when the UV rays are at their strongest.
www.tomorrowshs.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76