• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.244-248
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• 2021

Background: Sunburn is the main avoidable cause of skin cancer. Beach lifeguards spend many hours exposed to the effects of solar radiation during their work day, precisely at times of the year when levels of solar irradiation are highest. The aim of this study is to quantify the risk to beach lifeguards of sun exposure. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in the Western Costa del Sol, southern Spain, during the summer of 2018. The research subjects were recruited during a skin cancer prevention course for beach lifeguards. All participants were invited to complete a questionnaire on their habits, attitudes, and knowledge related to sun exposure. In addition, ten were specially monitored using personal dosimeters for three consecutive days, and the results were recorded in a photoprotection diary. A descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation for the quantitative variables) was performed, and inter-group differences were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Two hundred fifteen lifeguards completed the questionnaire, and 109 met the criteria for inclusion in this analysis. The mean age was 23.8 years (SD: 5.1), 78.0% were male, 71.5% were phototype III or IV (Fitzpatrick's phototype), and 77.1% had experienced at least one painful sunburn during the previous summer. The mean daily personal ultraviolet exposure per day, the minimal erythema dose, and the standard erythema dose, in J/m², were 634.7 [standard deviation (SD): 356.2], 2.5 (SD: 1.4) and 6.35 (SD: 3.6), respectively. Conclusion: Beach lifeguards receive very high doses of solar radiation during the work day and experience correspondingly high rates of sunburn. Intervention strategies to modify their sun exposure behavior and working environment are necessary to reduce the risk of skin cancer for these workers and to promote early diagnosis of the disease.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.421-428
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• 2022

Background: The exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is a significant risk factor generally underestimated by outdoor workers and employers. Several studies have pointed out that occupational solar exposure increased eye and skin diseases with a considerable impact on the lives and productivity of affected workers. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness against ultraviolet radiation of some measures recently undertaken for the protection of lifeguards in a coastal area of Tuscany. Methods: Different shading structures (gazebos and beach umbrella) were tested during a sunny summer's day on a sandy beach by means of two radiometers; the UV protection offered by some T-shirts used by lifeguards was also tested in the laboratory with a spectrophotometer. Results: The analysed shading structures strongly reduced the ultraviolet radiation by up to 90%, however a not always negligible diffuse radiation is also present in the shade, requiring further protective measures (T-shirt, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.); the tested T-shirts showed a very good-excellent protection according to the Australian/New Zealand standard. Conclusion: Results obtained in this study suggest how the adoption and dissemination of good practices, including those tested, could be particularly effective as a primary prevention for lifeguards who are subjected to very high levels of radiation for long periods.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제10권8호
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• pp.245-253
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• 2019

한국의 해양 라이프가드들은 아직 장애인을 위한 구조 및 안전 관리를 수행할 준비가 되어있지 않다. 더욱이 대부분의 라이프가드 훈련들이 장애인 구조에 관한 정보 혹은 훈련이 제공되지 않고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 문헌 검토를 실시하여 장애인을 위한 해양 라이프가드, 수상 안전관리와 관련하여 주요 이슈와 문제점을 찾아내는 데 있다. 데이터베이스(e.g., CINAHL Plus with Full Text, ERIC, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus with Full Text)를 사용하여 연구논문과 해양안전과 관련한 국가/민간단체들의 문서들을 검색하였다. 사용된 검색어 혹은 키워드는 물 안전, 구조 요원, 익사 방지 등이 있었다. 주요 이슈를 파악하기 위해 수집된 문서내용을 분석(내용 분석법)을 실시하였다. 결과는 내용분석결과를 토대로 장애인 구조(rescue), 익사방지 및 수상안전과 관련된 중요한 다섯 가지 이슈들을 도출할 수 있었다.