Reservoir East Primary School

REPS SUN PROTECTION POLICY

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to encourage and support sun protection behaviours at REPS to minimise risk of health problems from sun overexposure including skin cancer.

This policy provides guidelines to:

· support staff and students to use a combination of sun protection measures when UV index levels are 3 or above (generally mid-August to the end of April in Victoria)

· ensure that there are outdoor environments that provide adequate shade for students and staff

· ensure students are encouraged and supported to develop independent sun protection skills to help them to be responsible for their own protection

· support our school’s strategies to meet its duty of care and occupational health and safety obligations to minimise harmful UV exposure and associated harm for students and staff.

Scope

This policy applies to all school activities on and off-site, including camps and excursions. It is applicable to all students and staff.

This policy provides guidelines to:

· support staff and students to use a combination of sun protection measures when ultraviolet (UV) index levels are 3 or above (generally in Victoria this is from mid-August to the end of April)

· ensure that there are outdoor environments that provide adequate shade for students and staff

· ensure students are encouraged and supported to develop independent sun protection skills to help them to be responsible for their own protection

· support our school’s strategies to meet its duty of care and occupational health and safety obligations to minimise harmful UV exposure and associated harm for students and staff.

Policy

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation can cause health problems including sunburn, damage to skin and eyes, and an increased risk of skin cancer. UV damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life.UV is a form of energy produced by the sun. The sun produces different types of energy including, visible light which we can see as sunlight, infrared radiation which we feel as heat and UV radiation which we cannot see or feel.

UV levels are affected by several factors including geographic location, altitude, time of day, time of year and cloud cover. This means that UV levels are higher in some parts of Australia than others even on the same day.

It’s important to remember that UV radiation:

· cannot be seen or felt

· can be reflected off surfaces such as buildings, asphalt, concrete, water, sand and snow

· can pass through light clouds

· varies in intensity across the day and the year

· peaks during school hours.

Sun safety

Sun safety is a shared responsibility and staff, parents and students are encouraged to implement a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV levels reach 3 or above. Information about the daily local sun protection times is available via the free SunSmart app, or at sunsmart.com.au or bom.gov.au.

REPS has the following measures in place for all outdoor activities during the daily sun protection times to help reduce the risk of over-exposure to UV radiation for staff and students.

Shade

REPS provides sufficient outdoor environment options for shelter and trees to provide shade on school grounds, particularly in places such as:

· where students congregate for lunch

· outdoor lesson areas

· popular play areas

· assembly areas

· sporting grounds

For off-site school activities including camps and excursions we will ensure that the outdoor environments provide adequate shade for students and staff whenever UV levels reach 3 and above.

Students are encouraged to use available areas of shade when outdoors during peak sun protection times, particularly if they do not have appropriate hats or outdoor clothing.

When building works or grounds maintenance is conducted at REPS that may impact on the level of shade available to staff and students, a review of the shaded areas available will be conducted and further shading installed as appropriate.

Sun protective uniform/clothing

REPS’s uniform or dress code includes sun-protective clothing, including:

· loose, cool, densely woven fabric

· shirts with a collar and/or high necklines

· tops with elbow length

· longer style shorts, dresses and skirts.

Students who are not wearing appropriate protective clothing will be asked to use available areas of shade when outdoors or a suitable area protected from the sun.

REPS 's uniform applies on and off-site unless otherwise advised. When students are not required to wear school uniform (such as school camps, free dress day), REPS will ensure steps are taken to encourage students to wear sun-protective clothing whenever UV levels reach 3 and above.

Hats

Students wear a school hat or a hat that protects the face, head, neck and ears when outdoors, for example broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket hat.

Baseball or peaked caps and sun visors are not considered a suitable alternative, as they do not protect the ears, cheeks or neck.

Students who are not wearing appropriate protective hats will be asked to use available areas of shade when outdoors or a suitable area protected from the sun.

Sunscreen

REPS encourages all staff and students to apply SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen daily whenever UV levels reach 3 and above. Sunscreen should be applied at least 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours (this needs to be more frequently if sweating or swimming).

At REPS, if students do not have their own sunscreen, they are welcome to attend the sickbay to access sunscreen.

Staff and students who may suffer from skin reactions from certain types of sunscreens are encouraged to contact Kelly and the office on 9460-1569 to implement a plan to reduce the risk of a sunscreen reaction at school, such as families sending their child to school with a suitable alternative sunscreen.

Sunglasses

Where practical, REPS encourages students and staff engaged in outdoor activities to wear close-fitting, wrap-around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard 1067 (Sunglasses: Category 2, 3 or 4) and cover as much of the eye area as possible.

Curriculum

Students at our school are encouraged to make healthy choices. They are supported to understand effects of sun exposure and are encouraged to be involved in initiatives to promote and model sun protection measures to the whole school. REPS will address sun protection and UV safety education as part of health lessons in the classroom.

Staff role-modelling and OHS

Staff are encouraged to access resources, tools, and professional learning to enhance their knowledge and capacity to promote sun smart behaviour across the school community.

UV radiation exposure is considered as part of our school’s risk management and assessment for all outdoor events and activities, i.e. UV radiation protection strategies are included in school camp activities, excursions, sports days and interschool sports events.

Families and visitors

Families and visitors participating in and attending outdoor school activities are encouraged to:

· wear a sun-protective hat, covering clothing and, if practical, sunglasses

· apply SPF50 or SPF50+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen and

· seek shade whenever possible when outdoors.

Community engagement

Families, students and staff are provided with information, ideas and practical strategies to support UV safety at school and at home. Sun protection behaviour is regularly reinforced and promoted to the whole school community through newsletters, school website/intranet, staff and parent meetings, school assemblies, student and teacher activities and at student enrolment/new staff orientation.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

· available publicly on our school’s website (hard copy available from school administration upon request)

· included in staff induction processes

· in staff handbook/manual

· included in transition and enrolment packs

· discussed at parent information nights/sessions

· included in reminders in REPS newsletter

· discussed in student forums

Further Information and Resources

Future information and resources about sun protection are available at:

· the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library: