{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,5]],"date-time":"2026-06-05T04:05:46Z","timestamp":1780632346513,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,27]],"date-time":"2026-05-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779840000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aimed to assess the risks associated with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure among military outdoor workers at Lohatla Military Base, South Africa, and to inform targeted risk reduction strategies. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, using a questionnaire survey with 161 participants (81% completion rate; 58.39% male; the largest age group was 19\u201325 years) and five days of objective environmental monitoring. Environmental data confirmed the presence of elevated solar ultraviolet radiation conditions, with peak irradiance levels recorded between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM, while temperature highs frequently exceeded 35 \u00b0C (peaking at 39 \u00b0C). Statistical analysis using Spearman\u2019s rank-order correlation revealed strong positive associations among sun protection behaviours, including wearing protective clothing, hat use, sunscreen use, and avoidance of peak sun exposure hours (\u03c1 values up to 0.764, p &lt; 0.001), indicating the clustered and interdependent nature of effective sun safety practices. Furthermore, engagement in protective behaviours was significantly associated with improved health outcomes, including a lower incidence of sunburn (\u03c1 = 0.407, p &lt; 0.001) and reduced hyperpigmentation (\u03c1 = 0.438, p &lt; 0.001). These findings indicate that combined protective strategies are associated with reduced self-reported dermatological outcomes. Despite the benefits of individual behaviours, military personnel remain exposed to high levels of environmental ultraviolet radiation, underscoring the need for institutional, evidence-based policy interventions to mitigate occupational exposure risks. The study concludes that military organisations should implement mandatory administrative controls (e.g., schedule adjustments), standardise high-ultraviolet-protection-factor protective gear, and enhance targeted health literacy training to mitigate long-term UV-related health risks and improve the operational effectiveness of their workers.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph23060715","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,28]],"date-time":"2026-05-28T08:00:36Z","timestamp":1779955236000},"page":"715","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Characterising Occupational Solar UVA Exposure Intensity and Self-Reported Health Outcomes Among Outdoor Military Workers in Lohatla, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"23","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-8518-6268","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sipho David","family":"Galawe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Technology Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9095-354X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Phoka Caiphus","family":"Rathebe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2282-6375","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kgomotso","family":"Lebelo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Occupational and Environmental Exposure and Health Division, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"51","DOI":"10.4161\/derm.24494","article-title":"Sunlight and Vitamin D: A Global Perspective for Health","volume":"5","author":"Wacker","year":"2013","journal-title":"Dermatoendocrinology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aiello, G., Lombardo, M., and Baldelli, S. 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