November at Pryme is all about sun protection.
The iconic Slip, Slop, Slap campaign started over forty years ago, but Australia still has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Skin cancer remains Australia’s most common cancer for Australians under the age of 40, and two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 every year. Around 2000 Australians die from this disease every year.
National Skin Cancer Action Week, an initiative of the Cancer Council, runs from 21-27 November this year to highlight that we need to do more to promote sun protection. This year’s theme is ‘the job’s not done until we’re all safe in the sun’, so we’re doing our part to remind our workers of what they can do to prevent one of the leading causes of mortality in Australia.
Thankfully, it’s easy to reduce our risk of developing skin cancer. There are five forms of sun protection all Australians need to use the when the UV level is 3 or higher—and Pryme has a solution for each of them.
Slip
Our first line of protection is to slip on sun protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
If your workers are wearing high-vis workwear onsite, be sure to choose a supplier that deals in UV-protective fabrics. While most clothing offers sun protection, some outdoor worksites are exposed to such high degrees of UV radiation that further protection is a good idea.
It’s also important to choose clothing that’s breathable to avoid overheating in the intense summer heat. Pryme stocks a range of high-vis cooling vests, which are 30-60% lighter than other PCM vests, adjustable to the correct fit for each worker, and that offer phase-change cooling for up to 2 hours.
Slop
It’s easy to prevent the sun damage that causes skin cancer by working it into your workplace’s daily safety routine. Encourage your workers to slop on broad spectrum, water resistant, SPF30 (or higher) sunscreen twenty minutes before going outdoors, and every two hours afterwards.
Pryme’s MaxiBlock range of sunscreens and zinc sticks offers very high levels of protection against both UVA and UVB rays up to SPF50+. And because we care about people and the environment, they’re also dermatologically tested and reef-safe. For worksites also bothered by mosquitos, our specially formulated Outbacker range combines sun protection with insect repellent.
Slap
Remind your workers to slap on a hat with a broad brim to protect their face, head, neck and ears.
Pryme’s Ergodyne range of safety products includes hard-hat brims with shades for extra neck and face cover. The Chill-Its 6660 hard-hat brim features an elastic rim that fits around the outside of standard hard-hats, providing sun and UV protection to keep your workers shielded from skin damage even while they’re working in the most intense sun and heat. It’s also available in high-vis lime, orange, and navy blue, so you can organise them for different purposes or coordinate them to your work uniforms.
Seek
One of the primary ways to avoid UV exposure is to seek shade.
Pryme’s SHAX® Work Shelter can be erected and placed wherever your workers need some relief from the sun. It features UV coatings to block out harsh rays, PU coatings for waterproofing during wet work days, and powder-coated steel frames to hold up to whatever your jobsite throws at it. They’re also reflective, flame resistant, adjustable, and reinforced, so they’ll last the long haul in your workplace’s fight against skin cancer.
Slide
Encourage your workers to slide on a pair of sunglasses while they’re working to help protect against skin cancers.
Always make sure to choose sunglasses that are manufactured to meet Australian Standards, and that offer high UV protection. You might even think about purchasing safety eyewear for use on the worksite that are polarised as well as sun protective.
Whatever you choose, make sure your workers remember to take precautions while working at heights: you can find a range of Ergodyne tethering solutions on our website that can be used for tethering safety glasses and sunglasses to prevent drop injuries and skin cancer at the same time.
You can read more about Skin Cancer Action Week, and access downloadable resources for your workplace, on the Cancer Council website here. For more information on any of Pryme’s sun protection products, or to place your orders for the summer, contact our friendly staff and we’ll be more than happy to help keep your workers safe.
