Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR) affects everyone

UVR effects everyone, it comes from the sun as well as artificial lighting such as welding or specialised lights used in hospitals and laboratories.

It’s not just related to how hot it is, you can still get burnt on cool or cloudy days.

UVR levels are high enough to damage unprotected skin which can result in skin cancer (UV levels of 3 and above). Cancer Council research says that skin cancer accounts for around 80% of all newly diagnosed cancers*

You can be affected by UVR even if you are in a car or home.

There are many different types of glass. Each provides very different levels of sun protection, for example:

House window glass provides only moderate protection against UVR.
Office building glass has a UPF of 50+ which means it provides excellent protection.
Vehicle glass UVR levels vary. But it’s important to remember that a person sitting in a car can still receive significant exposure to UVR.

Some tips for protecting yourself include:

Engineering controls:
- Use shade cloth when working outdoors.
- Put blinds or curtains down to block out sunlight.
Administrative controls
- Reschedule work so the hot tasks are performed during the cooler part of the day.
- Provide extra rest breaks in a cool area.
- Reduce the time spent doing hot tasks (eg. job rotation).
Personal protective equipment and clothing:
- Wear hats and light clothing that still provide sun protection.
- If you’re an employer, download the SunSmart Skin cancer and outdoor work guide for more information.