Sun Safe Workplaces is a national accreditation programme. We provide employers of outdoor workers with a comprehensive range of tools, resources and support to assist them in their duty of care to safeguard and educate employees to prevent occupational skin cancer and promote the early detection and diagnosis of cancerous lesions.
Sun Safe Workplaces was our third national accreditation that launched in 2014 as a bespoke, targeted solution for outdoor workers who are in one of the highest risk groups for skin cancer. Our mission is to raise awareness across industries and facilitate the needs of employers who have a moral and legal obligation to address UV radiation in the workplace as a serious occupational hazard and are uniquely placed to save lives through educational intervention.
1 in 5 people in the UK will develop skin cancer which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK and worldwide. UV radiation is the direct cause of 90% of all skin cancer cases and due to the nature of their work, this occupational hazard places outdoor workers at 60% greater risk of developing the disease.
Employers have a duty of care to ensure a safe working environment for their employees, this includes reducing the risk imposed by solar UV radiation. By implementing a robust sun protection programme and educating workers on the prevention and early detection of skin cancer many lives can be saved.
Our mission via the Sun Safe Workplaces national accreditation programme is to provide employers and Health & Safety Representatives with a nationally accessible, cost effective solution with which to confidently and effectively address and manage all aspects of their duty of care.
The objective of the programme is to reduce the risk of and prevent occupational skin cancer and to promote the vital early diagnosis of malignant lesions by empowering outdoor workers to take charge of their skin health, driving attitudinal and behavioural change both on and off the job.
To gain their Sun Safe Workplaces accreditation, organisations are guided through the 6 step process detailed below. Extensive management, educational and supportive resources have been developed to help workplaces achieve each step effectively and efficiently, with maximum impact on required outcomes and minimum strain on valuable time and resources.
Once each of the accreditation steps have been completed organisations can apply for their accreditation by answering a series of questions relating to various aspects of the programme and providing feedback of their experience.
“The whole journey of working with SKCIN has been brilliant. The team have been super helpful and working with not only us, but our industry partners to help share knowledge and help provide preventative measures to really help save lives both now and in to the future. The training has changed the behaviours of even some of the most stubborn people within our business and really made them think about sun protection!
Through the partnership with SKCIN and by taking part in the accreditation programme we have been able educate all of our branch teams, with the training being widely welcomed throughout the network. This also has helped us improve our H&S policies further and offer preventative measures through the provision of sunscreen and awareness options to all. Our long term goal is to see the number of people effected in the roofing community in particular fall, but more importantly open up the conversation around skin cancer and get everyone looking out for each other on a daily basis – even when the sun isn’t shining! There would be no hesitation in recommending this training opportunity – with many of our colleagues and customers commenting that this should be mandatory.”
SIG Roofing
