Comparison of measurement devices for the measurement of erythermal solar ultraviolet radiation during an outdoor-worker study in Austria

To quantify erythemal ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure of road construction workers involved in typical outdoor work, a study was conducted using UVR-sensitive polysulphone film badges. More than 1000 man day exposures, involving 37 workers, were accumulated between July and September at 50 different construction sites in the surroundings of Vienna (latitude: 48 °N, altitude: approx. 150 m). A conversion factor giving the ratio between the measured erythemal radiant exposure at different parts of the body and the global erythemal radiant exposure was calculated to extrapolate the erythemal radiant exposure for the workers for the following years. To verify the measurements with the polysulphone film badges, additional UVR measurements were carried out. Intercomparison of the measured results justified using polysulphone films for quantitative UVR exposure studies. The study found that road construction outdoor workers were exposed to high levels of UVR, in most cases without adequate sun protection. A general conversion factor for the actual exposure from global horizontally measured values could be obtained.