title: What encourages sun protection among outdoor workers from four industries?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to identify current practice of sun protection and factors associated with effective use in four outdoor worker industries in Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workplaces in four industries with a high proportion of outdoor workers (building/construction, rural/farming, local government, and public sector industries) were identified using an online telephone directory, screened for eligibility, and invited to participant via mail (n=15, recruitment rate 37%). A convenience sample of workers were recruited within each workplace (n=162). Workplaces' sun protective policies and procedures were identified using interviews and policy analysis with workplace representatives, and discussion groups and computer-assisted telephone interviews with workers. Personal characteristics and sun protection knowledge, attitudes and behaviors were collated and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Just over half the workplaces had an existing policy which referred to sun protection (58%), and most provided at least some personal protective equipment (PPE), but few scheduled work outside peak sun hours (43%) or provided skin checks (21%). Several worker and workplace characteristics were associated with greater sun protection behaviour among workers, including having received education on the use of PPE (p<0.001), being concerned about being in the sun (p=0.002); and working in a smaller workplace (p=0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uptake of sun protection by outdoor workers is affected by a complex interplay of both workplace and personal factors, and there is a need for effective strategies targeting both the workplace environment and workers' knowledge, attitudes and behaviors to decrease harmful sun exposure further.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janda
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoneham
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Youl
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Marguerite C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sendall
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tenkate
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimlin
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000592:standards; D060389:Construction Industry / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000592:standards; D011793:Queensland; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents