Employees who work outdoors have been urged to protect themselves from skin cancer, under a new health campaign launched in Liverpool.
The campaign, by Public Health Liverpool in partnership with the NHS and local employers, was launched after the number of skin cancer cases doubled over the last decade in the city.
Studies show that people who work outdoors are twice as likely as those with an indoor job to be diagnosed with skin cancer.
Assistant cabinet member for adult health and the council’s cancer champion, Cllr Roy Gladden, said: ‘We want people to get the message that sun cream is no different to putting on a hard hat and gloves or any other form of protective clothing. It is there to protect you from the risks associated with doing your job.’
The campaign includes posters to be placed in workplaces and a symptoms card for employees encouraging them to get any moles or patches of skin they are concerned about checked by their GP.
Dr. Sandra Davies, interim director of Public Health for Liverpool, said: ‘Tackling skin cancer is one of our priorities and we know that people who work outdoors often don’t realise the risk they are exposing themselves to.
‘If you work outdoors you can spend literally hours in the sun every day so it is really important to make sure you are protected. Even if it is cloudy, you are still at risk of the damage the sun can do.’
