Preventing Skin Cancer Among Outdoor Workers

Research conducted by Queensland University of Technology (Australia) has revealed that UV radiation exposure at work is the biggest fear of more than one in two outdoor workers. In response, the researchers set out to determine whether a workplace intervention could improve the workers behaviours and attitudes towards sun protection in order to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Working in conjunction with Cancer Council Queensland and Curtin University, the researchers collaborated with 14 Queensland outdoor workplaces from farming, construction, public service and local government industries to develop personalized sun protection action plans, which included the provision of portable shade structures to be used during breaks, tinting of vehicle windows, swapping baseball-style caps for broad-brimmed hats, and wearing long-sleeved collared shirts and long trousers. Results showed that after adopting the individualized plans, the number of workers who reported using sun protection increased significantly. For example, the proportion of workers who checked their skin for early signs of skin cancer increased after the intervention program, with 80% reporting they had conducted a skin check in the previous 12-months, and 10% more had their skin checked by a doctor. However, the intervention program also had a significant impact on the daily behaviour of workers – 20%more workers said they usually or always seek natural shade, 25% more workers wore broad-brimmed hats, 19% more wore long-sleeved collared shirts and 16% wore long trousers. "The proportion of workers who agreed their workplace enforced sun protection and agreed their supervisors protected themselves increased by 10% to 76% of all workers," said health promotion specialist Dr Marguerite Sendall, who was involved at the grassroots level in implementing the workplace interventions. "Despite ongoing public health campaigns, outdoor workers remain a difficult to reach group but if we can take care in making the sun protection program really relevant to their personal circumstances and work environment, the potential health benefits are significant."