Oxybenzone

Every day, golf course superintendents and their employees face risks. The operation of heavy equipment, stray golf balls and even lightning can make the golf course a hazardous workplace. Yet the most consistent, insidious and dangerous occupational exposure that threatens golf course employees' health goes largely unrecognized--the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

UV radiation is the primary cause of skin cancer. Outdoor workers receive up to eight times more UV exposure and have a 60-percent greater risk of developing skin cancer than indoor workers. Skin cancer is the fastest growing and most prevalent form of cancer in the United States. In 1930, an American's risk of developing melanoma was 1 in 1,500; today it's 1 in 41, primarily due to outdoor-oriented lifestyles. This skin cancer epidemic led the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to classify ultraviolet radiation as "a known human carcinogen" in its Year 2000 Report to Congress. In response, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a sun protection advisory for outdoor workers.

So what do you need to know to work safely under the sun?

Know the Risk

Sun exposure at any age can cause skin cancer. Your skin and eyes are most susceptible to sun damage. According to OSHA, you need to be especially careful if you have:

* Numerous moles, irregular moles or large moles

* Freckles or burn before tanning

* Fair skin or blond, red or lightbrown hair

You also need to consider the amount and intensity of the UV you are exposed to daily. You need to be especially careful if you:

* Live in the south or southwest

* Live or work at high altitude

* Spend a lot of time outdoors in midday

* Spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer

Reducing sunburn is the single-most preventable risk factor for skin cancer. Short periods of intense sun exposure, such as sunbathing, are associated with a two-fold increase in melanoma risk.

Take Cover

Staying out of the sun whenever possible is the most foolproof way to protect yourself. Take advantage of the shade you have. Ride in covered golf carts, have discussions under trees near fairways and wait for appointments under a covered patio at the clubhouse. Shade also can be portable. A shade canopy or a large umbrella with Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) 50-plus fabric can provide excellent sun protection.

As much as 85 percent of UV radiation can reflect off of sand, cement and water, so shade cover may not be enough to protect you. Clothing can be an excellent physical sunscreen. Sun-protective clothing is any garment whose design or style covers sufficient skin and whose fabric has a UPF of 15 to 50-plus. UPF indicates how much UV is absorbed by the fabric. For example, a fabric with a UPF 50 allows only 2 percent of the UV radiation striking it to pass through to your skin. Sun-protective clothing with a UPF between 15 and 50-plus blocks 93 to 98 percent of UV radiation.

Factors that affect the sun-protective quality of clothing include:

* Style. Clothes designed to cover the most skin provide the most protection. Long-sleeved shirts with collars, long pants, and shoes and socks provide more coverage than tank tops, t-shirts, shorts and sandals.

* Weave. Fabrics with a tight weave between the threads block more sunlight than loosely woven fabrics. Fewer, smaller holes between the threads allow less ultraviolet radiation to pass through to the skin. Choose clothes made of tightly woven fabrics.

* Stretch. Fabrics that stretch can allow more UV to pass through. Choose clothing with little stretch or wear clothing loose on the body.

* Color. Light-colored clothing feels cooler because it reflects infrared light (heat), but darker colors absorb harmful ultraviolet light better and provide more protection for the skin.

Tightly woven hats with a three-to four-inch brim all the way around can help reduce UV exposure to some parts of the head and face by 100 percent. More skin cancers occur on the head and face than any other place on the body.

Use Sunscreen

Sunscreen is a valuable sun protection measure when used appropriately. Regular use of a broadspectrum sunscreen is effective in preventing UV-induced skin damage that may result in skin cancer. There are two major types of UV radiation that damage skin, UVB and UVA. All sunscreens protect against UVB, but only broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVB and UVA. The active ingredients in sunscreen absorb, reflect or scatter the harmful rays of the sun. Sunscreen ingredients are classified as either chemical or physical based on how they perform on the skin.

Chemical sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into the skin and work by absorbing UV radiation. Most chemical sunscreens absorb UVB rays only. Physical sunscreen ingredients lie on top of the skin and work by reflecting or scattering UV radiation. Many sunscreen products contain a combination of chemical and physical sunscreen ingredients to make them more effective and less allergenic.

Sunscreen provides protection for a limited amount of time, usually the number of minutes it normally takes your skin to redden multiplied by the SPF of the sunscreen. So, if you usually burn in 10 minutes on a sunny summer day, sunscreen with an SPF 30 will protect you for 10 x 30 = 300 minutes (five hours). Keep in mind that SPF 30 blocks 97 percent of UV; SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. No sunscreen blocks 100 percent of the sun's UV radiation. Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Sunscreen can be washed, sweated or wiped off by normal everyday activities.

Ideally, a broad-spectrum, high-SPF sunscreen should be used in addition to wearing sun-protective clothing. Sunscreen should be used to protect against normal sun exposure, not to prolong your time in the sun.

Like the skin, your eyes can be damaged from too much sun exposure. UV can cause cataracts, degeneration of the retina and even melanoma of the eye. UV-protective sunglasses can reduce UV exposure to the eyes significantly. Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV. Bigger lenses or lenses that wrap around the face offer more UV protection. Lenses should be large enough to shield your eyes from most angles in order to help block scattered, reflected or refracted UV light.

Stay Informed

The EPA's UV Index provides a daily forecast of the expected intensity of the sun for 58 U.S. cities. The index predicts UV intensity on a scale of 0 to 10-plus, where 0 means minimal risk and 10-plus means a very high risk of overexposure. Check the UV Index online at http: //www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ products to help you plan the sun precautions you should take each day. Post it for all employees to see.

When skin cancer is detected early, it can almost always be cured. The most important warning sign for skin cancer is a spot on the skin that's changing in size, color or shape. Examine your skin and see a doctor if you find anything unusual.

HOW TO CHOOSE AND USE SUNSCREEN

* Choose sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or more.

* Select products that protect against UVA and UVB rays. To block UVA, look for avobenzone, oxybenzone, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in the active ingredients.

* Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before your work shift to give the chemicals time to work.

* Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed skin with a thick, even layer.

* Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating, but not to prolong your time in the sun. The protection will only last for the original amount of time afforded by the SPF.

* Check the expiration dates of sunscreen products. The average shelf life is two years.

* Discard lotions that feel gritty or grainy, because the active chemicals have come out of solution.

Mary Klein Buller is president of Klein Buendel Inc., a multimedia research firm that specializes in sun protection education.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Adams Business Media
COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group