Over three quarters of UK farmers get sunburned every year

New data published today by the charity Melanoma Focus shows 77% of agricultural workers suffer from sunburn at least once per year and 76% remember getting sunburned as a child or teenager.[1][2]

The results of a survey of UK farmers also found that 52% rarely or never wear sunscreen in the summer.[3] When asked why they were not regularly wearing sunscreen, 33% of respondents said it was because they often forget and 25% said it was because they don’t expect to burn.[4]

Over a third (38%) of farmers also said they rarely or never cover their skin with clothing or a sunhat when working outdoors in the summer.[5] This is despite most reporting that they spend the majority of their working day outside.[6]

There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year and it is the 5th most common cancer in the country.[7][8] 1 in 35 men and 1 in 41 women in the UK will now be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime.[9]

Melanoma is considered the most serious form of skin cancer because it has the highest mortality rate, and deaths from melanoma are projected to continue to rise.[10]

Research shows that having five or more sunburns doubles your risk of getting melanoma skin cancer and even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles your chances of developing melanoma later in life.[11][12] Further studies indicate that experiencing five or more bad sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases your melanoma risk by 80%.[13]

Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, said:

“Agricultural workers are frequently exposed to harmful UV rays because of the nature of their work and it’s alarming to see that many of these individuals are experiencing sunburn, which significantly increases their risk of developing melanoma – a deadly form of skin cancer.

“Taking preventive measures such as wearing a high factor sunscreen, wearing a hat and covering up when working in the sun is crucial for reducing the risk of melanoma and safeguarding the health of farmers and other workers who spend a lot of time outdoors.”

Farmer Richard Harvey, age 80 from Rutland in the East Midlands, was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in 2018. He said:

“I’ve never been one to spend hours on a beach sunbathing so it was a surprise to be diagnosed with melanoma. We didn’t used to be so aware of the dangers of the sun when I was younger so I didn’t wear sunscreen very often despite having light skin and blue eyes. I used to take my shirt off for 30 minutes to an hour on sunny days and I did occasionally burn but not what you’d call severely.

“I was diagnosed with melanoma after finding a lesion on my chest. Unfortunately it spread and I was diagnosed as stage 4 in 2019. I’ve been having treatment since and I’m aware that there is a high chance of the cancer returning. Farmers often feel fit and well and it can be easy to forget to protect your skin when you’re working outdoors.”

Stephanie Berkeley, Manager at the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), said:

“Farm safety goes beyond working safely with livestock, transport or machinery. Working in agriculture means you spend a lot of time outside, and means you have far more sun exposure than people who work indoors.

“Despite the well-established (and continuously growing) body of evidence linking sun exposure and skin cancer, there are many farmers out there who are still regularly suffering from sunburn. We’d urge all farm workers to remember that they are the agriculture industry’s biggest assets and to be sun safe and know their skin.”

86% of melanomas are preventable by protecting your skin from harmful rays.[14]

ENDS

#MelanomaAwarenessMonth

#KnowYourSkin

Notes to editors:

About Melanoma Focus:

  • Melanoma Focus is a national charity dedicated to providing a comprehensive and authoritative source of information for public and professionals alike, as well as supporting education and promoting research about melanoma.
  • Melanoma Focus runs a free and confidential helpline at 0808 801 0777

[1] When asked ‘How often do you get sunburned (either from the sun or a sunbed) per year on average?’ 23.08% said ‘Never’. Other responses were all more than once. (Q20).
[2] 75.82% said they got sunburned as a child or teenager. A further 14.29% didn’t know or couldn’t remember. (Q21)
[3] When asked ‘How often, if at all, do you wear sunscreen between May and September when in the UK?’ 34.02% said ‘rarely’ and 17.53% said ‘never’. This combined is 51.55%. (Q7)
[4] In response to ‘You said that you do not regularly or ever wear sunscreen between May and September when in the UK. Why, if for any reason, is this?’ 33.33% said ‘I often forget to apply sunscreen’ and 25.49% said ‘I do not expect to burn’. (Q8)
[5] When asked ‘Do you cover your skin with clothing and a sunhat when working outdoors during the summer months (May to September).’ 25% said ‘Rarely’, 9.38% said ‘Never’ and 3.13 said ‘N/A I never cover up or wear a sunhat’. This combined is 37.51%. (Q9)
[6] When asked ‘On average, how much of your working day is spent outside during the summer months (May to September). 53.68% said ‘Most (over half)’ and 30.53% said ‘Around half’. (Q10)
[7] From 2017-2019, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates increased by almost a third (31%) in the UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer#heading-Zero
[8] There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year. Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 5% of all new cancer cases (2017-2019): https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer#heading-Zero
[9] The estimated lifetime risk of being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer is nearly 1 in 41 (2%) for females, and 1 in 35 (3%) for males born in 1961 in the UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer/risk-factors#heading-Zero
[10] It is projected that the average number of deaths from melanoma skin cancer in the UK every year will rise from around 2,600 deaths in 2023-2025 to around 2,800 deaths in 2038-2040: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/melanoma-skin-cancer/mortality#ref-4
[11] Pfahlberg A, Kölmel KF, Gefeller O. Timing of excessive ultraviolet radiation and melanoma.. Br J Dermatol 2001; 144:3:471-475.https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts/
[12] https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/sunburn/
[13]  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151553/