Page 40 - OHS, June 2020

HEAT STRESS
Sun Protection 101: A Complete Guide to Skin Damage Prevention
Those who do not respect the sun’s almighty powers may ultimately find themselves in a world of skin damage.
BY ALSIE NELSON
36 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2020
www.ohsonline.com
The sun. You know, the life-enabling center of our universe and a muse for everyone from The Beatles to Sheryl Crow. But for all it giveth, it taketh away—and those who do not respect the sun’s almighty powers may ultimately find themselves in a world of skin damage.
It’s Time to Get Serious
About Sun Protection
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with cases increasing by nearly 10 percent each year. One in five Americans will develop it in their lifetime, making it more common than all other forms of cancer combined.
The likelihood of developing skin cancer for those who work outdoors is 3.5 times higher than for those who do not. The sun damage risk on worksites is so high OSHA has identified UV as a carcinogen. With
skin cancer expenses exponentially increasing (more than $8 billion spent annually), treatment costs are detrimental to both workers and their employers.
That’s all pretty staggering, but what really causes it? Ninety percent of skin cancer diagnoses are di- rectly attributed to long-term overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation—specifically, sunburn. Redness, heat and pain are the body’s attempt to repair skin cell DNA that has been mutated by UV photons. A long- term build of unrepaired cells is what can ultimately become skin cancer.
Sun Damage Prevention
Now for the good news. Though skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, it’s also one of the most preventable. A simple combination of sunscreen, pro- tective clothing and shade can drastically decrease the risk of cancer and skin damage. And for those still