Safety tips for working outdoors on hot, sunny days
A good proportion of your daily work in turf management will be outdoors. In the Australian summer, this puts you at risk of over-exposure to sunlight and heat. Both of these hazards can be avoided if you know what to do.
There are two main hazards caused by working out in the sun:
The main cause of skin cancer in Australia is exposure to ultraviolet radiation which is found in sunlight.
Did you know that:
skin cancers kills more than 700 Australians each year
about 125,000 Australians have skin cancer at this moment but don't realise that they have it
skin cancers are the most common cancers in Australia
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancers in the world?
The longer skin is exposed to the sun, the greater the risk of skin cancers. So, if your job involves spending a lot of time in the sun, then you need to make sure you protect your skin against sun damage.
Cover up
Put on cool, protective clothing if you're going to be out in the sun:
Wear a shirt – preferably one with a collar and long sleeves.
Wear long trousers if you can.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and face from sun damage.
Slap on sunscreen
Always put on sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF 15+). The higher the SPF number, the more protection you get. Your nose, lips, ears, neck and back of your hands need extra protection, so make sure these areas are properly covered with sunscreen.
Remember that you will need to reapply sunscreen after a few hours out in the sun.
During the Australian summer, the time between 10am and 4pm is peak sun time. This means that your risk of sun damage is highest if you're out in the sun during this time. If possible, work indoors or in the shade during this time. If you need to be out in the sun, then make sure you're wearing the right clothing and have put on enough sunscreen to protect yourself against sun damage.
Working outdoors on hot days can cause heat stress. This results in increased sweating and loss of water from the body and can lead to exhaustion, fatigue and even heat stroke!
To reduce heat stress, you should:
wear cool, cotton clothing when working outdoors
wear a wide-brimmed hat
put on sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF 15+)
wear sunglasses
drink small amounts of water frequently to replace any water lost through sweating
take frequent short rests in a shaded area
avoid working out in the sun during the hottest period of the day (10am to 4pm in the Australian summer).
