FEATURE
has to remove any risk, or if that is not possible look at other ways of preventing or reducing exposure, including, as a last result protective equipment which must be supplied for free.
Many outdoor workers, in particularly agricultural workers, may be employed through agencies and where this is the case the duty of care falls on both the agency and the employer to protect the worker.
STARTING EARLY Now into their third year with the Be UV Aware campaign Deb aren’t just targeting outdoor workers, they also hope to educate and protect pupils, 40% of whom have sustained sunburn whilst at school, according to Skcin figures. The Deb team have partnered with Skcin and recommend all educational institutions they work with enter the Sun Safe Schools and Sun Safe Nurseries annual accreditation schemes.
Both Deb and Skcin recognise the importance of a three tiered approach to sun safety in schools; working closely with the parents, the teaching staff and the child to ensure pupils understand why they need to protect themselves from the sun and when to do it.
Speaking about educating youngsters about sun safety, Paul Jakeway commented: “When school children aren’t in the classroom, they are playing outdoors and so we are focused on protecting the next generation of workers, as well as trying to instil best practice and behavioural change in people at an early stage. If it becomes a natural thing for children when they go into later life to protect themselves from the sun then it is more likely to become a part of their daily routine.
“It is all about driving the next generation to do the right things!”
PROTECTION & PREVENTION So how can organisations build employee skin protection into staff schedules and ensure they adhere to it?
According to Deb, employers should work to a three step plan.
First up is a risk assessment, to understand which parts of the
14 “DEB AREN’T JUST TARGETING
OUTDOOR WORKERS, THEY ALSO HOPE TO EDUCATE AND
PROTECT PUPILS, 40% OF WHOM HAVE
SUSTAINED SUNBURN WHILST AT SCHOOL.”
workforce require protection and where the product needs to be located.
The second step for employers is to provide employees with sun protection and ensure it is readily available on site, in an easy-to-access location, such as in a dispenser in areas with a high footfall, like the canteen.
Thirdly, everyone involved needs to be trained and educated on a regular basis about why those at risk should be protecting themselves and how to go about it, as well as informed of what can happen without sufficient protection.
Paul said Deb will continue to work to change perceptions around the issue of UV protection and hope that employers will do the same in order to keep those at risk protected. He added: “This is about creating behavioural change in the UK - we have a higher rate of skin cancer here than in Australia and if you consider the difference in climate, the reason they have a lower rate is because it is drilled into them from an early age.
“UV protection is a topical subject - depending on the length of the summer, a few months of the year- but skin cancer is just one form of skin damage. At Deb we view it as a part of a bigger picture – occupational skin disorders are one of the most debilitating issues to workforces around the world, but it is one that often gets taken for granted because they are often only diagnosed when it is too late.
“Our proactive approach to UV is the same approach we take on skin protection and skin care all year round, by focusing on organisations who want to do their best for their employees.”
To find out more visit
www.skcin.org info.debgroup.com/sun-home
www.tomorrowshs.com
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