While some exposure to sunlight can be enjoyable and healthy, too much can be dangerous.  Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight can lead to serious health problems, including skin cancer.  Having a supportive environment can motivate employees to start or continue with positive health behaviours.  The following is a list of suggestions to help promote sun safety to employees and their families, both on and off work time.  Keep in mind that not all suggestions will apply to every workplace.

1. Provide adequate shade for outdoor break areas such as umbrellas on picnic tables.

2. If adequate shade is not possible, encourage employees to take breaks indoors during peak ultraviolet (UV) exposure times:  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., or when the UV index is high.  Consider providing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses for employees who work outdoors.

3. Before buying a pair of sunglasses, consider the type of activity you will be using them for as well as the following tips:

• Sunglasses should block both UVA and UVB rays.
• The degree of darkness or tint of the lenses will not protect you eyes from UV radiation.
• Buy sunglasses that are UV absorbent, blocking 99 to 100 percent of all UV light.
• Look for the words “blockage” and “absorption”.
• Some manufacturers’ labels say UV absorption up to 400nm. This is the same thing as 100 percent UV absorption.
• Consider polarized lenses: they are designed to cut glare due to reflection.
• Sunglasses should be dark enough to reduce the glare but not so dark they distort colours.

4. Install wall-mounted sunscreen dispensers in the workplace, or provide employees who work outdoors with individual bottles of sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher that has been approved by the Dermatology Association.

5. Plant more trees.  They may not provide a lot of shade in the short term but they will contribute to air quality.

6. Consider rescheduling outdoor work to non-peak UV radiation times or, if possible, move the work to a shady location.  Or, develop a policy to rotate workers between indoor and outdoor activities to reduce the time a worker spends working in the sun.

7. Promote sun safety measures during workplace social events such as golf tournaments, baseball games barbeques and picnics.

8. Children learn by example and adults are important role models for their families and should practice sun safety measures. Let children see you applying sunscreen and wearing a hat.

For more information contact Public Health at 352-7270 or online at CKhealth@chatham-kent.ca