ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION FROM THE SUN


Produced by the Radiation Protection Service, 
Occupational Health and Safety Branch, 
Ministry of Labour.
Disponible en fran¨ais.



HAZARD SUMMARY:

People who work outdoors should avoid prolonged exposure to sunshine
because of the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the
sun.

Excessive exposure to the sun's radiation over the years is a factor
related to premature skin aging, skin cancer, and cataracts in older
people.

The UV levels are highest in spring and summer between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m.  At noon on a clear summer day, for example, it can take only 15
minutes to cause a sunburn on unprotected fair skin.

To reduce the exposure of workers to ultraviolet rays while working in
direct sunlight when UV levels are high, the following precautions are
recommended:

     -  Wear a hat.

     -  Wear tightly-woven clothing covering as much of the body as 
        is practicable.

     -  Apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or
        higher on exposed skin.  The sunscreen should be effective
        in filtering both UV-A and UV-B rays; this information is
        usually printed on the product's packaging.

     -  Wear eyeglasses that effectively filter ultraviolet rays. 
        Plastic safety glasses and plastic cosmetic sunglasses have
        been found to be good UV filters.  UV filtering factors 
        appropriate for sunglasses used for different purposes are  
        specified in the CSA draft Standard Z94.5, "Nonprescription 
        Sunglasses". 

For further information on the CSA draft Standard Z94.5, please 
contact the Canadian Standards Association at (416) 747-4000 or write 
to 178 Rexdale Blvd., Rexdale, ON, M9W 1R3.  For further information on 
UV radiation please contact the Radiation Protection Service at 
(416) 235-5922 or the Ministry of Labour Area Office nearest to you.