Skin Cancer & Sun Exposure Checks for Outdoor Workers
Years of work in the sun add up. Construction, roofing, farming, landscaping and road crews have a higher risk of skin cancer. Most skin cancers are preventable and, caught early, very treatable. A few habits and a monthly check can save your life.
- Outdoor Workers
- Supervisors
- Everyone
Types of skin cancer
- Basal cell carcinoma: the most common; usually a shiny bump or sore that does not heal. Slow growing.
- Squamous cell carcinoma: a firm red bump, scaly patch or sore. Can spread if untreated.
- Melanoma: the most dangerous. Often a new or changing mole or dark spot.
Prevent it
- Seek shade for breaks and set up shade structures for lunch and rest areas.
- Wear long sleeves, long pants, a wide-brim hard hat brim or neck flap, UV-blocking safety glasses and a collar. Clothing with a UPF rating gives more protection. See Sun Protection.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin, including ears, neck, hands and the back of the neck. Reapply about every 2 hours and after sweating.
- Schedule heavy work earlier or later if you can; the sun's UV is strongest from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Do not use tanning beds. UV on cloudy days, snow and water still burns.
- Watch for medicines that make you sun-sensitive.
Check your skin (ABCDE)
- A - Asymmetry: one half does not match the other
- B - Border: edges are ragged, notched or blurred
- C - Color: uneven shades of brown, black, red, white or blue
- D - Diameter: larger than about a pencil eraser (6 mm), though melanomas can be smaller
- E - Evolving: any change in size, shape, color, bleeding, itching or crusting
Look at your whole body monthly, including the scalp, back, ears, hands and between toes, using mirrors or a partner. Photograph spots to track change.
When to see a doctor
- Any new growth, sore that does not heal in a few weeks, or a mole that changes.
- Have a yearly skin exam by a doctor if you work outdoors, especially with fair skin or a family history.
- Early removal usually cures most skin cancers. Tell your doctor about your work; a work-related case may be covered by workers' compensation in some places.
Standards & references
Last updated: