Working outdoors increases your skin cancer risk by up to 10 times. With two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70 and more than 2,000 people in Australia dying from skin cancer each year, Cancer Council Australia data estimates that Australia spends more than $1 billion per year treating skin cancer, with costs increasing substantially over the past few years.

To assist in the workplace, Cancer Council Victoria’s SunSmart team have released a new range of workplace posters aimed at raising awareness. Last week, they have also launched a new app called ‘seeUV’ which shows how UV damages us and what the UV rays look like. seeUV is also a warning tool for current UV levels. SunSmart’s research tells us that although you can’t see or feel UV, the app uses UV readings to depict the strength of UV rays in your environment – the more red rays dancing across your screen, the greater the UV damage danger at that location – telling you to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide. “For the best level of protection against UV damage, protect your skin in five ways: slip on covering clothing, slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses”, says SunSmart Manager Heather Walker.

Employers must remember the role they need to play in protecting workers from harm from UV rays. For more workplace information and resources on how to be a SunSmart employer, visit the Cancer Council’s workplaces website.

Speak to our team of health, safety and wellbeing experts to find out more information on managing your workplace obligations. Contact us on 03 8662 5333 or email us at hsw@victorianchamber.com.au.