HSE reminds outdoor workers to be SunSmart

To increase awareness of how to be SunSmart, the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) is hosting a free public webinar ‘SunSmart for Outdoor Workers’ on Wednesday, 23rd of July at 12pm. This webinar will help raise awareness and support outdoor workers and their employers in reducing the risk of skin cancer.

Outdoor workers are particularly vulnerable to skin cancer. Spending long periods of time outdoors, they are exposed to 2-3 times more UV rays from the sun than indoor workers, putting them at increased risk of skin cancer and eye damage.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 cases annually. The number of people being diagnosed with skin cancer in Ireland is rising rapidly. Yet skin cancer is largely preventable by protecting skin from UV.

People often think it is the sun’s heat that causes skin cancer but, in fact, it is UV radiation from the sun, which you cannot see or feel, that causes damage to the skin. It doesn’t have to be a warm and sunny day for UV levels from the sun to be high. Even on cloudy days, UV levels can be high enough to damage your skin. Remember, it’s UV radiation from the sun that damages the skin and eyes.

Dr Breeda Neville, Specialist in Public Health, NCCP, HSE, says: “UV damage builds up over time, so outdoor workers should use sun protection every day between April and September. Do not wait for hot and sunny days to use sun protection. UV from the sun is damaging, even on cool, cloudy days. Outdoor workers can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer and sun damage with proper education and preventive measures. Outdoor workers need to protect themselves by following the SunSmart 5 S’s, and employers should be aware of their responsibility to protect their employees”.

The Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5 S’s show outdoor workers and their employers how they can help reduce their risk of skin cancers by following these tips:

• Slip on clothing that covers your skin such as, long sleeves, collared t-shirts
• Slop on sunscreen. Use sunscreen SPF minimum 30 or higher. Apply 20 minutes before going outside and re-apply every two hours – more often if sweating.
• Slap on a wide brimmed hat or hard hat with a brim and use a neck flap.
• Seek shade, especially if outdoors between 11am to 3pm when UV rays are at their strongest. If possible schedule outdoor work before 11am or after 3pm.
• Slide on wraparound sunglasses

James Brown, patient advocate for the SunSmart campaign, is raising awareness of the importance of skin protection. The first 25 years of James’s working life was spent outdoors. “My story starts back in 2019 when I scratched two moles that I had on my back for years. During the night it suddenly started to bleed and became sore. My wife urged me to go to my GP. I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer. I had multiple surgeries to remove my lymph nodes. My diagnosis is stage four incurable skin cancer, but is treatable with the tablets. My message to anyone is to be SunSmart and protect your skin even at home as it’s the same sun here as it is abroad. Contact a doctor if you notice any changes, no matter how small you think they are”.

Prof Anne Marie Tobin, Consultant Dermatologist, Tallaght University Hospital says: “It is especially important for outdoor workers to check their skin regularly, as they are exposed to much more UV radiation from the sun than people who work indoors. This puts them at a higher risk of skin cancer. To find skin cancer early it helps to know what your skin and moles normally look like. That way, you'll notice any changes more easily.”

For more information, please see the SunSmart hub at hse.ie/SunSmart and check out #SunSmart on social media.