Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure of Outdoor Workers

Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is an occupational health and safety issue for outdoor occupations, since excessive exposure is associated with negative health outcomes, including eye conditions, and skin cancers.In this study, electronic dosimeters were used to record time-stamped UVR exposure of a convenience sample of 77 workers from three occupations: building, horticulture, and roading, selected from listings in Central Otago yellow pages directories. Workers kept a diary record of concurrent sun-protective practices and completed a questionnaire on sun-related knowledge, attitudes towards suntans, and perceptions of workplace socio-cultural environment. The two outcomes were UVR exposure and sun-protective practices.Using the Haddon Matrix and Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion to structure and guide the research, variables potentially associated with the outcomes were considered from the host (worker) and the socio-cultural environment (workplace) domains. Host factors included (1) sun and skin cancer related knowledge, (2) attitudes towards suntans, and (3) perceived risk of skin cancer..