Industry-Led Discussion: Protecting Australia’s Outdoor Workforce from UV Exposure

On Friday, the Australian Sunscreen Council (ASC) hosted an industry-led discussion bringing together leading voices from science, construction, manufacturing, and organised labour to address one of Australia’s most pressing occupational health challenges — UV exposure and sunscreen safety.

The session featured expert presentations from Dr Yousuf Mohammed (University of Queensland) and Dr Rocky Chowdhury, who shared critical insights into SPF testing, active ingredient safety, and what these findings mean for the protection of Australia’s outdoor workforce.

Construction and Industry Leaders

The ASC was joined by key representatives from the organisations shaping the built environment and industrial workforce, including: Civil Contractors Federation QLD, Master Builders QLD, Housing Industry Association (HIA), Multiplex, and 4WD Supa Centre.

These groups represent thousands of workers exposed to high levels of UV radiation daily, and their participation reflects a shared commitment to ensuring sunscreens used on Australian worksites are both effective and safe.

Union Representation and Worker Advocacy

Union representatives also played a vital role in the discussion, bringing forward the lived experiences of workers across multiple sectors. Participants included:The Services Union, Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Plumbers Union, and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU).

Their involvement underscored the central message of the event: worker safety must come before regulatory delay. The unions’ collective voice reinforced the importance of proactive leadership in preventing chemical exposure risks for those who spend their working lives outdoors.

Luke Barden - Plumbers Union QLD

Key Outcomes

A major outcome from the discussion was a unified, industry-led commitment to phase out sunscreens containing Homosalate and 4-MBC — two UV filters banned in more than 28 countries but still permitted in Australia.

As several speakers noted, these chemicals highlight a regulatory lag that echoes past failures:

• Asbestos – first death recorded in 1906, banned in Australia only in 2003

• Silica dust – restricted in the U.S. from 2017, addressed nationally here in 2024

  
  

The message was clear: we cannot afford to repeat history. Australia’s outdoor workers — the backbone of our economy — deserve immediate protection from unnecessary chemical exposure.

Looking Ahead

The Australian Sunscreen Council will continue to work alongside unions, industry, and scientific experts to strengthen Australia’s sunscreen safety standards. Together, we are building a unified national effort to ensure every outdoor worker is protected by science-backed, transparent, and safe sun protection solutions.

This event marks a significant milestone in Australia’s journey toward safer sunscreens — and a powerful example of what can be achieved when industry and labour come together to protect those who keep our nation moving.