24 August 2017
80 per cent of people involved in country life think outdoor workers are at greater risk of skin cancer
Eighty percent of people involved in country life in the South
of England think outdoor workers are at greater risk of developing
skin cancer due to longer exposure to the sun, a survey of Mole
Valley customers suggests.
But while more than half of respondents said that protecting
yourself from the sun was "very important" more than a quarter said
they "hardly ever" used suncream.
The survey - completed mainly by agricultural workers - was
conducted by the farming retailer for NHS England's Cover Up, Mate
campaign. Both Mole Valley and the National Farmers Union
(NFU) are supporting the campaign.
The NHS England campaign aims to encourage men who work
outdoors, such as farmers, construction workers, gardeners and
sportsmen to take a safer approach when in the summer sun to help
reduce the incidence of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is one of most common forms of cancer and it is
growing amongst men at a faster rate than it is for women.
James Small, Regional Board Chairman for the South West NFU
said:
"The fact that a quarter of people who responded to the survey
said they hardly ever used sun cream, with just ten per cent saying
they applied it every day is rather worrying. We would encourage
everyone working outdoors to make sure they always use sun cream,
even on overcast days. This might seem to be a bit of extra time
and trouble but in the long run it is far less inconvenient than
running the risk of contracting skin cancer."
Julie Edwards, Head of Communications for Mole Valley Farmers,
said:
"If you are working outdoors it's easy to forget about applying
sun cream. By supporting the campaign we are trying to overcome the
masculine stereotype, and encourage all men to wear sun protection
and cover up when in the sun. Skin cancer is just not worth the
risk."
A recent
Imperial College study, commissioned by the Institution of
Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) estimated that construction
workers make up the highest number of deaths (44%) caused by
ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun at work in Britain, followed by
agriculture workers (23%).
Kate Field, Head of Information and Intelligence at IOSH said:
"We encourage businesses to implement sun safety strategies to
help prevent skin cancer. This includes checking the UV index,
avoiding or minimising exposure to direct sunlight between 11am and
3pm, and regularly swapping job tasks between workers to make sure
everyone on the team can spend some time in the shade. People can
also cover up by wearing clothing and applying sunscreen where the
skin can't be protected."
Public Health England statistics show that many local areas
across the South have higher rates of malignant melanoma than the
national average. Between 2005 and 2014, incidence of malignant
melanoma in men rose by 45.3% in the South West. Deaths by
malignant melanoma in this time also rose by 22.4% in the South
West.
Clare Nasir, Met Office presenter and meteorologist, said:
"If you're working outdoors it's important to remember that UV
levels are usually highest between May and September. Clouds don't
always stop UV rays, and unlike the sun's warmth, it's difficult to
know when they may be harming you - so be sure to check the
forecast."
Cancer Research stats show that:
- A tan is a sign of skin damage - not health - and may offer
only factor 3 protection.
- getting painful sunburn, just once every two years, can triple
your risk of melanoma skin cancer;
- you're at higher risk of skin cancer if you have fair skin,
moles or freckles, red or fair hair, or light-coloured eyes;
and
- the highest risk months in the UK are May to September when UV
rates are higher.
Official
NHS advice on staying safe in the sun is:
- spend time in the shade if you can
- make sure you never burn
- cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
- use at least factor 15 sunscreen
The earlier skin cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat, so
see your GP as soon as possible if any moles or freckles change
size or shape.
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