Skin cancer risks highlighted to construction
industry
Health & Safety update 05/08/2011
Construction workers are being called upon to take action
against sun burn, following a report which revealed that certain
workers in the sector were far more likely to develop skin cancer
than others.
The Society of Occupational Medicine found that some construction
workers were nine times more susceptible to skin cancer than people
from similar social groups.
Construction union UCATT is now calling for "decisive action" to be
taken by the construction industry to dramatically reduce the
chance of skin cancer amongst employees.
Suggestions given include applying high factor sunblock, wearing
long-sleeved tops and long trousers, drinking lots of water and
checking skin for any changes on a regular basis.
Acting general secretary of construction union UCATT, George Guy,
said, “This study demonstrates the huge risk that construction
workers face of developing skin cancer.
"It is essential that everyone involved in the industry ensures
that construction workers are given the full information about the
risks they face and the preventative measures they need to take to
reduce those dangers," he said.
The union added that workers employed within the construction
industry were not receiving information about skin cancer due to a
lack of occupational health schemes within the sector.
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