Put your sun safety policy into practice
Overview
Real protection happens when policy is translated into everyday decisions, routines and expectations across the workplace.
Putting your policy into practice means moving beyond written commitments and embedding UV protection into how work is planned, supervised and carried out.
For people who work outside, sun exposure is not an occasional risk; it is a daily reality. You need practical actions that make sun safe behaviour effective and an easy, expected choice. This section focuses on turning policy into action. It gives you tools, action plans and ideas to help you identify priorities, assign responsibilities and build sun safety into existing systems such as:
- inductions
- toolbox talks
- procurement
- incident reporting.
Whether you are starting from scratch or strengthening what you already have in place, the aim is the same — create a workplace where sun protection is routine, supported and sustained.
Use the resources in this section to implement sun safety in your workplace.
Action plan
An action plan gives you a practical framework to help turn sun safety policy into concrete workplace actions. It outlines structured steps, tools and examples to help you plan, implement and evaluate sun safety initiatives tailored to outdoor work settings. Using this action plan template can help workplaces systematically reduce UV risk, strengthen compliance and embed sun protection into everyday practice.
Education and training
Education and training are essential to make sure workers understand the risks of UV exposure and know how to protect themselves at work. However, engaging outdoor workers can be challenging as they may work in temporary locations, be in transit for most of the day or have limited access to computers or emails. Considering what formats will be most effective for your staff is important and may differ across teams and roles. Pick and choose from the resources below:
Worker video
UV Worker Quiz
Webinar
WA WorkSafe SmartMove
Presentation to workers
Workplace posters
Toolbox talks
Outdoor worker brochure
Make it happen
- Target groups for training include:
- management
- health and safety personnel
- safety officers
- worksite supervisors
- at risk workers
- new workers.
- Tailor your training program to meet the ongoing needs of the workplace and workers. Identify needs by using:
- employee surveys
- audit results
- checklists
- Use a variety of training methods and tools, including:
- toolbox talks
- guest speakers
- introductory or refresher sessions
- newsletter articles
- poster displays
- educational brochures and flyers
- a health and safety noticeboard
- reminders via meetings and SMS messages
- signage
- pay slip notes.
- Be creative! Use:
- incentive programs
- role modelling
- family events and competitions to raise awareness about the issue
- a SunSmart employee of the month or SunSmart team of the week award.
- Remember, colleagues with a personal experience to share can be powerful advocates for sun protection.
Communicating the importance of sun safety
Communicate regularly and consistently to ensure staff, volunteers and decision-makers are not only aware of key responsibilities around sun safety but also know how to protect themselves and make a change. Communication about sun safety is important and isn't a one-off — it should be ongoing and consistent.
Consider existing communication tools in your workplace (like staff newsletters, meetings, and internal platforms) when communicating the importance of sun safety. Think about how you can leverage these tools to raise awareness of sun safety. Introduce new communication if needed.
This communication kit has everything you need to keep sun safety on the agenda and front of mind.
Communication kit
- Newsletter content and staff update emails (launching plan, reminders)
- Toolbox talking points
- Workplace posters
- Workplace poster — easy read.
- Outdoor worker brochure
- Conversation cards to include workers in conversations to create change
Ongoing commitment and consultation
Your action plan should be reviewed regularly to ensure it is effective and stays on the agenda. You should include feedback from workers when you develop the action plan and review processes.
This can be done through encouraging people to be sun safety representatives or through the forming working groups.
This will support continuous improvement and genuine change. Engage with your outdoor workers early and often.
Make it happen
- Monitor the program and the use of control measures closely in the first 12 months.
- Establish a system for collecting regular and ongoing feedback from workers. Try:
- surveys
- focus group interviews
- employee quizzes.
- Make sure feedback is documented and considered when you make changes.
- Consult with workers and their representatives before making changes.
- Encourage workers to become sun safety representatives and form working groups.
- Review the program and policy on a regular basis or at least every three years.
- Use information gathered during monitoring processes to inform training needs.