Danger Sun Overhead Information

The Danger Sun Overhead (DSO) program is an on-site education program addressing UV exposure and heat stress in the workplace. Our program is proven to be beneficial for industries subjected to high UV exposure, strengthening workplace policies and procedures including duty of care. Danger Sun Overhead was founded when, Joanne Crotty lost her husband, Rohan Crotty, to melanoma in July 2009 at the age of 43, leaving her to raise their 4 boys under the age of five. Jo wants to share her story because most melanomas can be prevented if people have access to education and awareness about skin cancer. Rohan was constantly exposed to the sun as part of his work. After his first diagnosis in 2006, at the time an organiser with the CFMEU, he recognised sun safety standards were not being addressed in the outdoor industries. Rohan became associated with the University of Queensland to help UQ research skin cancer in the construction industry. This study brought the awareness to the hazards of sun exposure into the construction industry. Jo founded DSO who now continue with this important work on Rohan’s behalf through the establishment of the Danger Sun Overhead program. Since the formation of Danger Sun Overhead in 2009, the Sun Safety initiative has provided education to over 65,000 workshop attendees in workplaces across Australia. Danger Sun Overhead’s services continue to be in high demand, delivering workshops in all Australian states and territories. DSO have implemented our vision of educating apprentices in outdoor industries. Taking the DSO program to the apprentices of all outdoor industries enables us to capture the 15-39-year-old age group, which unfortunately, is the demographic group where melanoma is the most common cancer. By educating the younger generation, who will one day be our next Supervisors, Safety Managers and Foremen.