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Ed van der Want, a roofer for 38 years, developed skin cancer as a result of prolonged exposure to UV rays. After several operations, he became an advocate for sun protection on building sites and won a change in the collective agreement for his sector.
As a member of the FNV trade union, he helped ensure that from 2019 employers will be required to provide their employees with UV-resistant work clothing, UV-protective sunglasses, a cap with a neck flap and sunscreen. Employers have a responsibility to protect their workers from the risks associated with the sun. They should constantly stress the need for sun protection, for example by putting up posters in the canteen with the message: “Make sure you use sunscreen! This will ensure that employees think about it every day”.
Although Ed van der Want is proud of this step forward and the change in the collective agreement for the bitumen and plastic roofing sector, he regrets that some workers are still neglecting these measures. He calls for greater awareness of the risks associated with the sun and heat, pointing out that the sanctions provided for in the collective agreement are rarely applied. He also calls for working hours to be adjusted to take account of high temperatures in the context of climate change.
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