Summer Safety On Site

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a disease of the body’s skin cells. Skin cancer develops when the cells which make up our skin are damaged and grow abnormally. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of skin cancer. Each time your skin is damaged by UV, changes take place in the structure and function of our skin cells. If UV damage keeps adding up, skin cells become less able to repair, increasing the risk of skin cancer. Using sun protection during sun protection times will prevent UV damage and cut your cancer risk – and it’s never too late. Using sun protection will cut your risk of skin cancer at any age. Protection at work Sun protection for the building and construction industry is essential given that the work is often outside. Cancer Council Australia recommends that all workplaces that require employees to work outdoors for some or all of the day have a comprehensive sun protection program in place that includes:

• Providing shade and window tinting;
• Scheduling outdoor work tasks outside of peak UV times
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) consisting of sun protective work clothing, sun protective hats, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen and wrap-around close fitting sunglasses.
• Providing education and training for all outdoor personnel so they are aware of how to work safely in the sun, know their own skin; and seek advice from a GP if they have any skin cancer concerns.

Introducing Incolink Skin Check Program

Incolink is excited to announce a partnership with Skin Patrol in order to commence a comprehensive Incolink Skin Checks program for our members. This is an extension of our more general Incolink Health Checks program which has been very popular with members. Incolink Skin Checks are now available to be rolled out on site and will be conducted by a General Practitioner. The Incolink Skin Checks program is rolled out over 2 steps on site.

• Step.1 -Skin Cancer Awareness Sessions – the importance of early detection of melanoma
• Step.2 - Skin checks – Full body skin check performed by a GP with full follow up and education about any skin issues.

Ways to protect yourself

A combination of five sun protection behaviours should be used in the workplace.

1. Slip on sun protective clothing
2. Slop on SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. Apply sunscreen liberally to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before you go outside and reapply every two hours.
3. Slap on a hat. A broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket-style hat provides good protection for the face, nose, neck and ears. Caps and visors do not provide enough protection.
4. Seek shade
5. Slide on some sunglasses. Sunglasses should be worn outside during daylight hours. Choose close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard AS 1067.

Sources: cancer.org.au, sunsmart.com.au, “Skin cancer and outdoor work”: A guide for employers