Employers Blocking out Sun Sense Message

This weekís baking temperatures are a reminder that cases of skin cancer are on the rise, especially in outdoor workers, but the number of businesses backing sun protection for their staff is actually declining, according to figures from UK health and safety experts, Croner.

Only around two-thirds (67%) of health and safety professionals support subsidising sunscreen for staff who work outdoors this summer. This is compared to a much higher figure of 80% taken from identical research in summer 2003.

The UKís estimated 2.2 million outdoor workers are in one of the highest risk groups for skin cancer, but under current health and safety regulations it is not compulsory for employers to provide sunscreen. Skin cancer, which can be caused by exposure to UV radiation from the sun, is one of the most common cancers in the UK with 100,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

Croner is concerned that too many employers, even those who support the idea of providing free sunscreen in principle, are not necessarily doing anything above the statutory minimum to help prevent skin cancer. HSE guidelines stipulate that employers should provide sun protection advice to their employees, which can be done in the form of pamphlets and noticeboards.

Bellway, which employs around 400 outdoor workers, is one business taking the risk very seriously and is recommending its employees use sunscreen and is now considering offering it free as part of its health and safety policy for staying safe in the sun.

Nasar Farooq, health and safety expert at Croner, says: ìSunshine can be an occupational hazard (along with working in wet and cold weather) that is foreseeable, and so employers must address the risk to their outdoor workers. Even though there is a growing awareness of the danger of too much sun, Iím very surprised to see a decline in support for such a simple solution as free SPF lotion. Of course the employees must also act responsibly and should buy and use such lotions to protect themselves when they are basking in the sunshine at home or indeed on holiday!

ìWe advise our clients, who include over 1,000 large construction companies, to take protecting workers very seriously. But many companies still take a ëbare minimumí approach to complying with legal safety standards. Like Bellway, we advise them to seriously consider providing sunscreen. In companies that donít, if an employee was able to prove to the courts that his employer failed in his duty to protect the employee from the risk of significant work-related exposure to the sun, then I wouldnít be surprised if an employee with skin cancer tried to make a claim against their employer, which could be a lot more costly than supplying sunscreen.î

Bellway East Midlandsí construction director, Paul Eastwood, says: ìHealth and safety is something we take very seriously at Bellway. We have advice in our health and safety policy on staying safe in the sun which advises employees to cover up and take regular breaks, especially from the midday sun.

ìGladly, peoplesí attitudes to sun exposure are slowly changing as we are constantly being warned of the dangers of a ëhealthy taní. But even with the UK summerís unreliable temperatures, we are advising our employees to slap on the sunscreen, and we are definitely considering offering free sun protection in the future.

Croner is issuing the following best practice advice for sun safety:

Keep workers informed about the dangers of sun exposure by including sun protection advice in routine health and safety training

Take practical measures such as placing water and rest points in the shade, and encouraging workers to take their breaks in the shade

Encourage workers to keep their shirts on at work and apply sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to exposed areas, the same applies when at home or on holiday

Encourage workers to drink plenty of water

Educate workers about the signs of skin cancer and tell them to see their doctor if they discover any.