Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Front Public Health. 2021 Apr 28;9:678680. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.678680. eCollection 2021.
Exposure of outdoor workers to high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) poses significant, well-known health risks including skin cancer and eye diseases. In South Africa, little is known about how many workers are potentially overexposed to solar UVR and what the associated impacts on their health might be. In this overview, the geography and solar UVR environment in South Africa are considered, as well as the different outdoor occupational groups likely to be affected by excessive solar UVR exposure. Sunburn, pterygium, cataract, keratinocyte cancers, and melanoma are discussed in the context of outdoor workers. Few studies in South Africa have considered these health issues and the most effective ways to reduce solar UVR exposure for those working outside. Several countries have developed policies and guidelines to support sun safety in the workplace which include training and education, in addition to the provision of personal protective equipment and managerial support. Several gaps in occupational sun protection and workplace sun safety for South Africa are identified. Legislation needs to recognize solar UVR exposure as an occupational health hazard, with sun safety guidelines and training provided for employers and employees.
户外工作者暴露在高强度的太阳紫外线辐射（UVR）下，会面临显著且众所周知的健康风险，包括皮肤癌和眼部疾病。在南非，人们对有多少工人可能过度暴露于太阳 UVR 以及这可能对他们的健康造成哪些影响知之甚少。在这篇综述中，考虑了南非的地理和太阳 UVR 环境，以及可能受到过度太阳 UVR 暴露影响的不同户外职业群体。本文讨论了户外工作者中晒伤、翼状胬肉、白内障、角质形成细胞癌和黑色素瘤等健康问题。南非的很少研究考虑过这些健康问题，也没有考虑到减少户外工作者暴露于太阳 UVR 的最有效方法。一些国家已经制定了政策和指南，以支持工作场所的太阳安全，其中包括培训和教育，以及提供个人防护设备和管理支持。确定了南非职业性日光保护和工作场所太阳安全方面的几个差距。立法需要将太阳 UVR 暴露视为职业健康危害，并为雇主和员工提供太阳安全指南和培训。
