Thursday the 4th February 2016 is World Cancer Day. Solar radiation is a known carcinogen. It is also the major cause of skin cancer in Australia and represents a major workplace hazard to workers in outdoor occupations.

Work Health & Safety legislation requires employers (and their managers) to provide and maintain safe working environments. Employers must ensure their workers can undertake duties safely and without risk to their health - this includes exposure to solar radiation. In turn, workers have a responsibility for their own Health & Safety. Workers must follow sun safety policies and use sun protective measures provided.

Cooperation between employers and their workers can help minimise exposure in the workplace, this may include:

•    reducing the amount of time outdoor workers spend in the sun;
•    providing and maintaining equipment needed to protect workers from the sun; and
•    information, instruction, training and supervision to reduce exposure.

Since 2002 workers in a wide range of outdoor occupations have been able to claim the cost of sunglasses, hats and sunscreen as a tax deduction. This is because wearing sun protective clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen and hats is no different from wearing safety boots, hard hats or gloves to reduce workplace injury. For more information visit the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.

ISOsafe can assist in the development of sun safety policies, initiatives & training programs for your business - contact us today