Occupational exposure to UV radiation represents one of the most significant yet preventable risk factors for skin cancer in New Zealand. Research shows that outdoor workers receive 5-10 times more UV exposure than indoor workers. The workplace skin cancer risks are clear, which makes sun protection at work not just a health consideration, but a critical workplace safety issue.
Outdoor workers
The risk of developing skin cancer is particularly acute for New Zealand outdoor workers, with studies indicating they have double the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma compared to indoor workers. Construction workers, farmers, miners, road workers and those in maritime industries face the greatest exposure, spending significant portions of their workday under direct sunlight during peak UV periods.
Under Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, employers have a legal duty of care to protect workers from UV radiation exposure, recognising it as a workplace hazard equivalent to other occupational risks. This obligation requires implementing comprehensive sun safety programs that go beyond basic protective equipment. Employers must develop and maintain detailed sun protection policies, including engineering controls like portable shade structures and administrative controls such as flexible work scheduling to minimise exposure during peak UV hours (10 am-2 pm).
Effective workplace sun protection programs typically combine multiple strategies. Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements should specify long-sleeved, loose-fitting clothing in UPF-rated fabrics, broad-brimmed hats that protect the face, neck and ears, and UV-protective eyewear. However, PPE alone isn't sufficient. Employers should also provide readily accessible sun protection for outdoor workers, including sunscreen stations, schedule regular skin cancer awareness training and facilitate annual skin cancer screenings for at-risk workers.
Indoor workers
While indoor workers generally face lower UV exposure risks, they're not completely protected from skin cancer risk. Modern office environments, with large windows and glass facades, create unique UV exposure patterns. While standard window glass blocks most UVB radiation, it allows significant UVA radiation to penetrate, which can contribute to skin damage and workplace cancer risk over time.
The risk for indoor workers often stems from incidental exposure patterns that they might not recognise as harmful. Lunch breaks and commuting during peak UV hours can result in significant cumulative exposure, particularly in urban environments where reflected UV radiation from buildings and surfaces can intensify exposure. Additionally, air-conditioned indoor environments may reduce awareness of UV intensity, leading workers to underestimate their exposure risk when they venture outside.
The modern workplace, with its mix of indoor and outdoor activities, requires a nuanced approach to sun protection at work. Even predominantly indoor workers should maintain sun-safe habits, including applying broad-spectrum sunscreen before leaving the office for lunch or outdoor meetings and keeping UV-protective items like sunglasses and hats readily available. Organisations should consider installing UV-protective films on windows and providing sun safety education and workplace skin cancer screening programs to all employees, regardless of their primary work environment.
