Workplace SunSmart Culture

Media Release
Wednesday 13 November, 2013

Workplace SunSmart Culture

Later this month a national forum will be held to discuss substances in the workplace proven to cause cancer. One such ‘substance,’ of particular concern to the Cancer Society, is solar UVR. It is a major hazard in outdoor workplaces as it’s the main cause of skin cancer.

Every year over 400 New Zealanders die from skin cancer and over 69,000 New Zealanders are estimated to receive some form of treatment for it. “More than 90 percent of cases of skin cancer are attributed to excess exposure to UVR, and many cases could be avoided if people routinely covered up their skin and protected their eyes,” says Barbara Hegan from the Cancer Society of New Zealand.

“However, what we don’t know is the proportion of this estimate that comes as a result of working outdoors, because occupation isn’t captured in cancer registry reporting. In fact the reporting is only for melanoma and not other skin cancers such as basal and squamous cell.

“If we had better information on the true numbers of those affected by skin cancer, linked to employment history, then everyone would see the economic sense of better managing and monitoring our most common workplace cancer.

“A good first step for attendees at the Workplace Carcinogens Forum will be to take a leadership role in safe work places, including supporting outdoor workplaces to adopt a SunSmart culture where everyone stays safe in the sun by protecting their skin and eyes.”

Attendees will include a range of policy makers, academics, unions, businesses and occupational health professionals.

ENDS

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