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With new data revealing nearly half of Aussies who work outdoors have been sunburnt at work in the last 12 months, SafetyCulture is offering free sunscreen to help protect Aussie workers.
There has been a big push over the last couple of months around sun safety, as most recent statistics are very alarming. This follows evidence that shows two-thirds of Australians will develop skin cancer before 70, with outdoor workers among those at greatest risk. New research from SafetyCulture has shed some light on the issues that Aussies who work outdoors are facing.
The survey of more than 1,000 Aussie outdoor workers, which included the likes of tradies, landscapers, and road workers, revealed that almost all (93 per cent) are concerned about the long-term effects of working in the sun. But despite the high levels of concern, almost half of those surveyed (45 per cent) also admitted to getting sunburnt at work in the last 12 months.
Is it negligence or lack of resources? According to the survey, workers believe that their employers are not nearly as proactive as they should be when it comes to ensuring that their employees are safe working in the sun.
Almost one in five stated that their employer struggles to provide access to proper PPE for working outdoors, with nearly 30 per cent saying their employers don’t offer any form of sun protection gear.
However, at the same time, negligence also comes into play as 64 per cent stated that they simply forget to use sun protection at work. The survey also found that they would prioritise things like grabbing a coffee (33 per cent), hitting the gym (26 per cent), or grabbing a schooner (23 per cent) instead of applying sunscreen at work.
Speaking on the topic at hand, TV host and SafetyCulture ambassador Scott Cam stated: “Working outside can be a tough gig. You’re constantly juggling a range of situations and different environments, so it’s easy for something like sunscreen to fall to the bottom of the priority list. At the same time, it’s just something you’ve got to do every day, or it will catch up with you in the long run.”
“The Aussie sun has a sting to it pretty much all year round, so if you haven’t got a tube in the toolbox or a big sunscreen pump onsite, then now’s the perfect reminder to go out and grab one.”
The survey also found that only a quarter of those working outdoors believe their employer has clear and enforced policies around sun protection. To combat this issue, employers and employees need to pull their fingers and react to the seriousness of the matter appropriately.
Kace O'Neill
Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.
