Taking care of our skin is really important and currently we are seeing a dangerous sun safety trend on social media, with potential repercussions for employees and their families. The online content claims sunscreen is actually bad for your health and that sunlight does not cause cancer. For the avoidance of doubt, this is fake news and there is absolutely no evidence to support the claims of ‘influencers’. Research and expert medical opinion agrees that it is important to take steps, such as wearing sunscreen and reducing sun exposure, to reduce the risk of skin cancer and other health issues.
Unfortunately, as with lots of social media content, people are being influenced by it. This worrying development also highlights a lack of awareness about sun safety and the serious health risks of overexposure to sunlight.
So, what does this mean for employers? All workplaces have a legal duty of care to keep employees safe while they do their jobs, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, and the Management of Health and Safety Regulations. This includes the risks from UV radiation while at work. Employers must provide ‘information, instruction, training and supervision’ and conduct suitable risk assessments.
Employers have an important role to play in keeping their employees safe, by raising awareness of healthy habits, and now dispelling harmful misinformation.
Sunlight and skin cancer
Most people enjoy soaking up some sun, and it’s actually good for us in lots of ways. Sunlight helps our bodies create vitamin D which is super important for strong bones, and spending time outside can really boost our mood. But it’s crucial to be careful in the sun throughout the year. If we don’t take care, we might end up with heat stroke, sunburn, or even faster skin aging and a higher risk of skin cancer.
Cancer Research UK findings[1] show…
- There are around 156,000 new non-melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year, which equates to nearly 430 new cases every day.
- There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s 48 every day.
- Since the early 1990s, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by around two-and-a-half times (147%) in the UK.
- Exposure to the sun (or sunbeds) is the main risk factor for both types of skin cancer, as ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the DNA of skin cells.
- 85% of melanoma cases are caused by sun exposure.
- According to Skin Cancer UK Almost 9 out of 10 melanomas are preventable through proper sun safety measures.
- Individuals with a history of sunburn are at higher risk.
- While all skin types are vulnerable to sun damage and skin cancer, individuals with fair skin need to be particularly cautious.
Symptoms of skin cancer:
The question is how do we identify if we have skin cancer? Here are some signs on the skin that Cancer Research UK advise[2] to watch out for:
- Smooth and pearl-coloured
- Waxy appearance
- Firm, red lumps or sunken areas
- Flat, scaly, and crusty red spots
Squamous cell carcinoma typically emerges in sun-damaged areas, mostly affecting individuals with fair skin. They may surface on various body parts and exhibit these symptoms:
- Scaly texture
- Hard, crusty scabs
- Pink or red appearance
- Raised, tender areas that may bleed
Attitudes to sun safety
Even before the latest social media trends, several studies amongst UK workers highlighted myths and misconceptions about sun exposure and attitudes towards sun safety. Many people believe they can’t get burnt in the first half an hour, they are safe if they tan easily, they can’t get sunburn through windows and that they only need to wear sunscreen on holiday. All of these statements are wrong.
Raising awareness of skin cancer risks and sun safety tips for workers is a great way to start protecting employees and is a part of an employer’s duty of care.
Assessing risks
As employers, assessing the potential risks in the workplace, is a vital part of health and safety. Sun safety is important for any outdoor workers, but it also applies to many more situations which are important to consider.
Employers should encourage employees to be safe on the way to and from work, when driving, while travelling during work, when running errands and when taking breaks. Getting outdoors for a lunchtime walk and some daylight is great for wellbeing and productivity, but that should never come at a risk, so sharing information on how to minimise risks is key.
Sun safety tips to share
- Keep your clothes on to protect your skin.
- Wear a hat with a brim or a flap to cover your ears and neck.
- Wear sunglasses to shield your eyes.
- Chill in the shade when you can. If you work outside, find some shade during regular breaks and lunchtime.
- Slather on sunscreen with at least SPF30 and four of five star UVA protection on exposed skin and reapply often.
- Don’t forget to put sunscreen on your ears and lips!
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
- Keep an eye on your skin for any odd moles or spots and see a doctor if something looks off – like changes in shape, size, colour, itching, or bleeding.
One of the best examples of how to stay safe in the sun at work are professional cricketers – they’re sun-safety superstars!
Here’s what they do:
- Wear loose, thin long-sleeved tops and long trousers.
- Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.
- Slather on tons of sunblock on their faces.
- Take plenty of drink breaks in the shade.
Skin Cancer detection
Health Shield introduced SkinVision to our Health Cash Plans in April 2024 to support early detection of skin cancer.
SkinVision is an app that allows users to submit photographs of any blemishes on the skin. The app’s AI-technology then assesses the risk of the blemish being cancerous and reports back with a high degree of accuracy within 30 seconds with the risk assessment, with all images reviewed by qualified dermatologists as a follow up.
In the first few months since launching SkinVision to our members, SkinVision has already identified several cases of skin cancer, and these members are now being supported through the NHS or private pathway by SkinVision dermatologists.
For those without access to our Health Cash Plan, if you notice anything unusual on your skin, promptly schedule a visit with your GP.
Understanding the risks of skin cancer and taking proactive measures to protect ourselves is so important. By raising awareness and advocating early detection, we collectively contribute to promoting, healthy, and happy lives.
All sources Cancer Research UK:
Cancer Research UK November 2023
Matt Liggins
Matt Liggins is Head of Wellbeing at Health Shield. He has more than 20 years’ experience in wellbeing across private, public and third sectors including the NHS, charities and corporate wellbeing. Matt has supported individuals, groups, workplaces, communities and national programmes. He has held client/patient-facing roles, working his way up to director level, managing wellbeing provider organisations. In the corporate space, he specialises in wellbeing strategy design to create healthy workplace cultures, working on site with hundreds of organisations to bring these strategies to life.
