• What law applies
• Working in the sun and heat
  • The risks of working in the sun
  • Workers most at risk
• The sun and its health effects
• Sun safety measures
  • Sun exposure in Queensland
  • Controlling sun exposure
  • Personal protection
  • Sunscreen
  • Training
• Heat stress
  • Causes and sources of heat stress
  • Heat related illness
  • Hydration
• Artificial sources of ultra violet radiation

• Personal protective equipment
• Risk management

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Sun exposure in Queensland

Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.

You can see sunlight and feel infrared radiation (heat), but you cannot see or feel ultra violet (UV) radiation.

The Bureau of Meteorology issues a UV index forecast every day to help people to avoid overexposure to high levels of UV radiation. In order to flag the time during the day when the levels of UV radiation can damage your skin, the Bureau of Meteorology, Cancer Council and Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) have adopted the UV alert based on the World Health Organisation's global solar UV index.

The SunSmart UValert times are when the UV index is three or above. Above this level, UV radiation can damage your skin and eyes and may lead to skin cancer therefore whenever SunSmart UV alert times apply, you need to use sun protection.

The SunSmart UV alert is reported in the weather page of all major Australian daily newspapers, on the Bureau of Meteorology website for over 300 locations across Australia and on some television and radio broadcasts.