What Encourages Sun Protection among Outdoor Workers from Four Industries?

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Health 2014-01, Vol.56 (1), p.62-72
• Main Authors: Janda, Monika, Stoneham, Melissa, Youl, Philippa, Crane, Phil, Sendall, Marguerite C, Tenkate, Thomas, Kimlin, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture - standards; Construction Industry - standards; Female; Government Agencies - standards; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Policy; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Local government; Male; Melanoma; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - prevention & control; Occupational health; Occupational Health - standards; Outdoor workers; Personal protective equipment; Primary prevention; Protective Clothing - statistics & numerical data; Protective equipment; Public sector; Public Sector - standards; Queensland; Risk Assessment; Skin neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms - etiology; Skin Neoplasms - prevention & control; Sunscreening Agents - therapeutic use; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects; Ultra‐violet radiation; Workers; Workforce; Workplace - standards
• ISSN: 1341-9145; 1348-9585; 1348-9585
• DOI: 10.1539/joh.13-0179-OA

Objectives：We aimed to identify current practice of sun protection and factors associated with effective use in four outdoor worker industries in Queensland, Australia. Methods：Workplaces in four industries with a high proportion of outdoor workers (building/construction, rural/farming, local government, and public sector industries) were identified using an online telephone directory, screened for eligibility, and invited to participant via mail (n=15, recruitment rate 37%). A convenience sample of workers were recruited within each workplace (n=162). Workplaces' sun protective policies and procedures were identified using interviews and policy analysis with workplace representatives, and discussion groups and computer-assisted telephone interviews with workers. Personal characteristics and sun protection knowledge, attitudes and behaviors were collated and analysed. Results：Just over half the workplaces had an existing policy which referred to sun protection (58%), and most provided at least some personal protective equipment (PPE), but few scheduled work outside peak sun hours (43%) or provided skin checks (21%). Several worker and workplace characteristics were associated with greater sun protection behaviour among workers, including having received education on the use of PPE (p