UV radiation at work

Solar UVR and cancer

Solar UVR (ultraviolet radiation) is invisible energy produced by the sun. It's made up of three wavelengths: UVA, UVB and UVC.

Both UVA and UVB can reach the earth's surface and are classified as human carcinogens. This means they cause cancer. Every time we overexpose our skin to radiation from the sun, some of our skin cells are damaged and we increase our risk of developing skin cancer.

A sunburn or a tan is a sign of skin being damaged by solar UVR. All skin types can be damaged, but fairer skin is at increased risk.

Solar UVR has also been linked with cancer of the eye, cataracts (clouding on the lens of the eye) and pterygium (a growth on the white of the eye).

Your cancer risk from solar UVR varies depending upon these environmental factors:

• solar elevation – when the sun is higher in the sky there will be higher levels of solar UVR
• ozone – ozone thickness changes daily. When the ozone layer is thicker, less UVB will reach the earth
• cloud cover – solar UVR can pass through light clouds so solar UVR levels on cloudy days may be similar to those on a cloud free day
• ground surface reflectivity – highly reflective surfaces can increase surrounding levels of solar UVR including concrete, snow, glass, water and polished metals
• altitude – higher altitude means higher solar UVR
• proximity to the equator – the closer you are to the equator, the higher solar UVR is generally.

More than 1.2 million Australian workers are exposed to solar UVR at levels five to 10 times more than indoor workers. As a result, if you are exposed to solar UVR at work you are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Each year in Australia, it is estimated that 200 melanomas and 34,000 non-melanomas are caused by exposure to solar UVR at work.

For information on UV radiation and working outdoors, download our brochure:

Information for employers on UV radiation and working outdoors can be found in our booklet:

The UV Index

The UV Index describes the strength of solar UVR. The higher the number, the stronger the solar UVR and the faster unprotected skin will be damaged.

If you work outside frequently, you should always use protective clothing including hats, sunglasses and sunscreen, regardless of the UV Index.

If you work outside occasionally, then you should use protection when the UV is 3 and above.

A UV forecast for many locations is available from www.MyUV.com.au.

What you need to know about solar UVR

Temperature is not related to solar UVR strength. Our skin can be damaged without us knowing, because we cannot feel UVR.

There are two types of solar UVR:

• direct UVR, which arrives directly from the sun
• diffuse UVR, which is scattered by the atmosphere and reflective surfaces.

On average you will receive 50% of your solar UVR from each type. Solar UVR can still damage your skin in winter. So sun protection is required whenever the UV Index is 3 or higher or when you are outside for long periods near highly reflective surfaces, e.g. snow or water.

Figure 1. Direct and diffuse solar UVR. Illustration (by Ography), courtesy of Cancer Council Victoria

For vitamin D concerns please see our vitamin D webpage.

Effective controls

Where there is solar UVR, the employer must ensure a protection plan is in place. Safe Work Australia's Guide on Exposure to Solar Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR), the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency's (ARPANSA) Occupational Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation, and Cancer Council’s Skin Cancer and Outdoor Work PDF outlines how you can manage employees' exposure to solar UVR.

A summary of recommended controls is outlined in Table 1 (a combination of controls should be used).

Workers must also:

• take care of their own health and safety
• not negatively affect the health and safety of other people
• follow any reasonable instruction and workplace health and safety policies.

Workplaces should eliminate or reduce exposure to identified hazards using the hierarchy of control (Figure 2) and implement a risk management process. Workers should always be involved in detecting hazards and control measures in the workplace. Training workers on workplace hazards and the policies in place to manage them is also a work health and safety requirement.

Figure 2. The hierarchy of risk control

A sun protection policy should also be developed, to explain how and why solar UVR needs to be managed. A sample policy is available in Safe Work Australia's Guide on exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR).

A SunSmart workplace will have:

• a periodic risk assessment using the hierarchy of risk control
• sun protection control measures: provision of PPE (personal protective equipment) such as hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, shade, long clothing, etc.
• sun protection policies (including penalties for non-compliance)
• training for employees to work safely in the sun
• role models.

For any concerns related to control measures at your workplace, or for more information, contact:

• your workplace supervisor or management (if you are an employee)
• your workplace health and safety representative or union representative
• state and territory work health and safety regulators
• Safe Work Australia

How do I detect cancer early and reduce my risk?

Contact your doctor if anything on your skin:

• has changed size, shape or colour
• itches or bleeds
• looks different from other spots around it
• has not healed within three weeks
• was not there before.

To find out what you can do to create a workplace that aims to reduce cancer risk, contact Cancer Council 13 11 20.

Table 1. Summary of controls for solar UVR exposure

Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses bought for sun protection at work are tax-deductible. For more information, visit the Australian Taxation Office website.

Sources

• International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lyon, France Worlf Health Organization 1992
• Young C. Solar ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer. Occ Med. 2009;59(2):82-8.
• Cadet J, Sage E, Douki T. Ultraviolet radiation-mediated damage to cellular DNA. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis. 2005;571(1-2):3-17.
• Ibrahim M, Sherrif, F, Brown, MD, Marc, D. Tanning and Cutaneous Malignancy. Dermatologic Surgery. 2008;34(4):460-74.
• Marrett LD, King WD, Walter, SD. Use of host factors to identify people at high risk for cutaneous malignant melanoma. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 1992;147(4):445-53.
• Gallagher RP, Lee TK. Adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation: A brief review. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology. 2006;92(1):119-31.
• Safe Work Australia. Guide on Exposure to Solar Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR). Canberra, ACT: Safe Work Australia 2013.
• Cancer Council Victoria. Skin cancer and outdoor work: A guide for employers. Carlton, Victoria. Cancer Council Victoria, 2012.
• World Health Organization. Intersun: the global UV project: a guide and compendium. Nairobi United Nations Environment Programme 2003.
• Kimlin M, Janda M, Crane P, Sendall M, Tenkate T, Graves N, et al. QUT Outdoor Worker Sun Protection Project. Queensland: Queensland University of Technology, School of Public Health and Social Work; 2013.
• Safe Work Australia. Exposure to direct sunlight and the provision of sun exposure controls in Australian workplaces. Barton, ACT: Safe-Work-Australia 2009.
• Fritschi L, Driscoll T. Cancer due to occupation in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 2006;30(3):213-9.
• Australia CCWA. The shade handbook: a practical guide for shade development in Western Australia. Perth, Western Australia Cancer Council Western Australia 2012
• Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Ultraviolet Radiation. Yallambie, Victoria: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency; 2015.
• Australian Safety and Compensation Council. Guidance note for the protection of workers from the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. Canberra, ACT: Safety and Compensation Council; 2008.
• Collins D, Lapsley, HM. Economic costs of Alcohol and other Drugs in the Workplace. 1st ed. Adelaide National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction; 2001.
• Safe Work Australia. How to manage work health and safety risks – Code of Practice. Canberra, ACT: Safe Work Australia; 2011.