Outdoor workers most a risk of skin cancer, study warns

A new study conducted by Imperial College London has warned that employees who work in areas which are exposed to the sun result in at least one death per week.

The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, cited that construction workers had the highest number of deaths, with 44 per cent accountable to skin cancer, followed by agriculture workers (23 per cent of deaths). Public administration and defence workers accounted for 10 per cent of deaths.

Dr Lesley Rushton, lead researcher from Imperial College London, said: “We’ve shown previously that people often don’t understand the risks of damage caused by sun in the UK.  But this research shows you don’t have to work in the Mediterranean or a traditionally sunny country for the sun to damage your skin.

“It’s important to get to know what your skin is normally like, and to tell your doctor if you notice any changes to how your skin looks or feels. Skin cancer can appear as a new mole or mark, or it can be a change to something you’ve had for a while.

“Now that we have a clearer picture of the extent of the damage caused, employers need to make sure they take sun exposure at work seriously and work out how to reduce it.”

Sarah Williams, Cancer Research UK’s health information manager, said: “These figures reveal the risk that some people might face from too much sun exposure whilst working. But we need further research to conclude whether sun exposure at work is directly responsible for these skin cancers.The researchers looked at the risk of developing skin cancer for outdoor workers using information from international studies, and the proportion of workers potentially exposed to sun from British data sources. These figures were then used to estimate the number of people who might have developed skin cancer due to work related exposure using a mathematical model.

“We all need some sun for healthy bones, but too much can increase the risk of skin cancer, and the risk can be higher for some people. Generally, the best ways for people to protect their skin is to spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, and cover up with clothing. Also use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and four or more stars on the parts of the body you can’t cover, like face and hands.”