How do employees who mainly work outdoors protect themselves from intense sunlight? And what precautionary measures do employers take? Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now investigated this. The study shows that there are differences in individual sun protection behavior in relation to gender, industry and working hours.
For example, 88 percent of men who work outside for at least four hours wear shirts that cover their shoulders. For men who work outside for two to three hours, the figure was only 73 percent. The study also shows that women use sunscreen on their faces more often than men. The FAU researchers therefore emphasize the need to make men in particular more aware of the use of sunscreen and to provide better information about the UV index. Employers could also make a significant contribution by providing better access to shady areas, protective clothing and sunscreen.
Occupational skin cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma and its precursors, is a common occupational disease in Germany. The annual treatment costs are estimated at 3.15 million euros. Effective sun protection in the workplace is therefore of great importance not only for individual employees, but also for society as a whole.
Source and further information: fau.de
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