An article in the May 2015 issue of the Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) magazine notes again the concern among the medical and safety professionals around the issue of exposure of employees to the sun as part of the working day. According to a research project carried out by the Imperial College of London, 50 people in the UK die every year as a direct result of melanoma that can be traced back to their workplace activities. Almost 5 people a day are being diagnosed with this type of cancer, a figure that is truly shocking. Funnily enough, a similar issue arose in the Health and Safety Review (HSR) magazine in May 2015 also, again I feel highlighting the severity of this issue. So what can be done to tackle it?
Sun Safety Strategies can be adopted in the workplace and a lot of useful information can be found at the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/skin/sunprotect.htm
While on site myself and in particular over the last number of years, companies insist on all those on site wearing long sleeved shirts or tops and at all times having the back of their necks covered. The issue of exposure to the sun is in today’s working world is a real challenge for employers but it is one that must be addressed and managed correctly.
For more information, please feel free to contact us.
* SHP, May 2015, pg.7
* Health and Safety Review May 2015, pg.5
