In the UK everyone looks forward to the good weather and some sunshine. However with sunny
weather comes the risk of sunburn and potentially skin cancer.
Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer in the UK. With figures from Cancer
Research estimating that there are as many as 100,000 new cases each year.
Around 50 per cent of work related cases of the most common type of skin cancer are in
the construction industry. The scale of the problem within construction has prompted the
making of this film that will give you the facts about skin cancer caused by the sun
and suggest some ways of minimising your risk when working outside in the summer months.
If detected early there is a 95 per cent success rate in treating this type of cancer; a far
better rate than for most other types of cancer. However, if left to develop, some types of
skin cancer can spread via lymph nodes and into the immune system to other organs within
the body causing secondary cancers.
In the most severe cases skin cancer can be fatal. But whilst rarely fatal, treatment
often involves surgery to cut out the cancer. The process can be traumatic; from finding
the tumour, awaiting diagnosis from your GP or specialist, the removal process, the wait
for test results to find out whether the tumour was cancerous and then for larger removals
reconstructive surgery.
Many who have had skin cancer get further tumours. Cancer Research advises that the
risk can be increased by as much as nine times.
The skin is very complex with several different layers each with its own role.
When a tumour forms, often it can be like an iceberg with only a small area visible on the surface but
with substantially more area affected by cancerous cells below.
It’s this iceberg that causes
most surprise to the patient after surgery when they realise how much has had to be cut
out to ensure all of the cancer has been removed and only healthy cells remain.
The most common areas for skin cancer are on the back, neck, and sometimes the back
of the legs. You may have found it difficult to apply sun-cream to these areas.
Some people are more likely than others to develop skin cancer. If you have lots of moles
or freckles, light coloured eyes, or have red or fair hair, then you will be at more
risk because people with any of these characteristics typically burn easily.
Irrespective of your skin type, staying in the sun until your skin goes pink or red is
a physical sign that you have already caused damage to your skin. Repeatedly letting this
happen can lead to developing skin cancer.
People can sometimes assume that bright sunshine is the cause of skin cancer. However, what
actually causes it is ultraviolet or UV radiation that comes from the sun.
Cancer Research advises that main periods of risks in the UK are the months April to
mid-September with the highest levels of UV rays being present between 11 am and three pm.
UV rays penetrate skin cells causing sunburn, skin ageing and DNA damage. It’s this damage
that can cause you to develop skin cancer.
UV rays are invisible and cannot be felt on the skin. The heat of the sun that you feel
comes from infrared rays.
A common misconception is that risk only exists when there is bright sunshine. This is wrong.
UV rays are still present on a cloudy or overcast day. 30 to 40 per cent of UV rays will still
penetrate through dense cloud cover and up to 80 per cent if only half the sky is covered
in cloud. UV rays are also present from reflections;
not just from metal roofs, coverings or glass, but 5 to 10 per cent off the surface of water,
15 per cent off sand and 10 per cent off concrete surfaces so you may be exposed even if you
think you are in the shade.
There are 10 sun safety measures.
In the same way that you or perhaps the site manager check the weather forecast for the
next day, or even further, it is possible to check the UV forecast. The UV level is
often given in newspapers, websites and on television or radio forecasts.
The UV level will usually be listed as a number which will then be grouped as low, medium or high.
This information will enable you and the site manager to prepare for the level of protection needed.
The next sun safety measures can only be achieved with the co-operation of your employer or
the principal contractor for the site which you are working.
Where possible between 11 am and three pm work should be undertaken
away from direct sunlight either inside or in a shaded area.
Any canopy or cover provided for shade should be made from fabric or material
that is fire rated and tested for UV protection with a UPF protection of 30 plus.
Obviously this is only suitable for areas where the worker is positioned in one area for a period
of time and where plant such as forklifts and excavators are not needed for the task.
Where it is not possible for everybody to work away from direct sunlight, or provide
shade, thought should be given to the rotation of workers so that as little time as possible
is spent working in direct sunlight.
When it’s hot and you’re doing lots of manual work, probably the last thing
you would think to wear is lots of clothes.
However in Australia, parts of the USA and other countries where the weather is far hotter and sunnier
than the UK, it is very common for workers to wear long-sleeved tops and long trousers
when working outside. The clothing is designed for working outdoors and whilst harder to
find, it is available in the UK.
Such clothing is designed to be both comfortable when working
outdoors and to offer protection by being: quick drying, soaks up sweat so you don’t
feel wet; high wicking, moves sweat, moisture away from your skin quickly;
UV protecting, the material will have been tested and therefore will have the protection rating or UPF.
Look for a UPF rating of 30 plus. Remember where clothing or PPE is provided to you by your
employer, you must by law make sure that you wear it.
You probably haven’t seen many wide-brimmed hats with neck protection on a construction
site as normally hard-hats must be worn at all times. Hard-hats don’t usually have
cover for the neck however some manufacturers produce neck protection that can be attached
to your hard-hat. Where neck protection is not provided or available, you need to think
about how you can cover and protect your neck.
Another area of the body that can be affected by UV radiation is the eyes
with damage leading to cataracts or even cancer in the eye.
When selecting sunglasses, you need to remember to choose wrap around types to prevent sun
creeping in at sides, ensure the sunglasses have a marked UV rating of 400 and with a
label stating 100 per cent UV protection.
Many sites now have sun-lotion dispensers or single use sachets for you to use.
And there are many sun lotions on the market which are quick drying and non-greasy so dust and
dirt won’t stick to your skin.
When you use sun lotion the following points are important:
ensure the sunscreen you use has a UVA and UVB protection and a solar protection factor,
SPF rating of 30 as well as a four star rating. Don’t scrimp, you need to put at least
a teaspoon-full on each arm, leg, front, and back of the body and at least half a teaspoon-full
to the face every time you put on sun-lotion. Make sure you leave enough time for the cream
to soak in before going out into the sun.
Make sure you re-apply cream regularly during
the day remembering to wash your skin beforehand. Remember you need to put the lotion on all
areas that are not covered and could be exposed to the sun. Don’t forget your neck, head, ears and back.
Drinking plenty of water is important for healthy skin which will help to minimise the
impact of the sun on your skin.
Checking your skin is the final sun safety measure. The earlier the detection and diagnosis,
the more effectively skin cancer can be treated. The best way to detect skin cancer is to spend
a couple of minutes checking your skin at least once a month.
Check your head, face, neck and chest; right down to your hips.
Look in a mirror, or get someone else to check the areas you can’t easily see, such as
the back of your head, ears and back.
Next check your arms, elbows including your underarms and both sides of your hands.
When checking your body you are looking for any marks that appear to be growing, bleeding
or changing appearance in any way; a spot or sore that does not heal within 4 weeks.
A spot, mole or sore that itches, hurts, scabs, crusts or bleeds for more than four weeks;
areas of skin that become sore or an ulcer forms for no apparent reason and again it
doesn’t heal up within four weeks.
Checking moles is particularly important as the most serious form of skin cancer often
starts from moles on your skin.
There is an A, B, C, D easy guide to checking moles.
Asymmetry: the two halves of the mole may differ in their shape and not match.
Border: the outside edges of the mole may appear to be blurred and sometimes not show
notches or look ragged.
Colour: this may be uneven and patchy. You may see different shades of black, brown and pink.
Diameter: typically this type of skin cancer is at least six millimetres in diameter; larger
than the rubber on top of a pencil. If any mole gets bigger or changes, tell your doctor.
It is very important that you visit your GP immediately if you think you’ve found any
of these points when checking your skin. You will never be criticised for getting it checked out.
Skin cancer is on the increase. But by following the guidance in this film, you can help to
protect yourself from this entirely preventable form of cancer.