Senior managers' awareness of sun protection policy predicts implementation of worksite sun safety in a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND

Outdoor workers experience chronic exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV) elevating their risk for skin cancer.

METHODS

A controlled randomized trial promoted the adoption of workplace sun safety policy and employee education at 98 public organizations in Colorado. A 2-year follow-up study with 68 organizations assessed the association of senior manager awareness of sun safety policies and implementation of sun safety actions.

RESULTS

Senior managers' awareness of existing sun safety policies, but not their personal sun protection behaviors, predicted implementation of sun safety actions including the number of sun protection messages and sun protection items in the workplace and increased communication about sun safety to employees.

CONCLUSIONS

Organizational adoption of sun safety policy must include efforts to broadly inform a workplace's senior management to ensure the policies are actually implemented and provide support for sun protection behaviors by outdoor workers to reduce UV exposure and skin cancer risk.