Recognizing that outdoor workers are at high-risk for skin cancer, the California Department of Health Services - Skin Cancer Prevention Program (SCPP) is utilizing the concepts of Stage and Organization Development theories to integrate a comprehensive sun safety education kit--promoting sun protection awareness, education, and policy--into outdoor occupational venues throughout California. Kit components include original posters, a video, fact sheets, a policy template, skin cancer testimonials, a supervisor advisory, a quiz, notepads, stickers, and some sunscreen samples. The rationale for this campaign springs from these facts. Sunlight is the principal cause of skin cancer. For the first time in April 2000, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services declared solar radiation a "known human carcinogen" via the Ninth Report on Carcinogens. Nationally, the 1.3 million plus incidence of skin cancer exceeds all new cases of the next 12 types of cancer combined, including cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon. SCPP is targeting outdoor workers because this population has historically received little attention regarding skin cancer prevention. The presentation will highlight campaign methods and accomplishments determined through evaluation measures including kit utilization survey responses, observed employee practice of sun-safe practices, and organizational incorporation of sun protection policies. Participating work sites that completed a survey rating the kit reported that almost 60 percent of outdoor employees adopted at least one new sun safety practice such as wearing a wide-brimmed hat, neck flap (bandanna), or a long-sleeved shirt, or using sunscreen. See www.ca5aday.com/programs/skin/skin.htm
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Specify at least three reasons why sun safety practice is important in an outdoor occupational environment. 2. Describe how to integrate sun protection instruction and policies into outdoor work sites. 3. State at least three indicators for determining the degree of success in incorporating sun safety instruction, guidelines, and environmental apparatus into outdoor work venues.
Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Occupational Safety
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.