Skin cancer: European Outdoor Workers Number one Enemy
With a w orkforce of approx. 14.5 million occupied for at least 75% of their work ti me outdoors, in Europe alone, attention on the invisible risk of UV exposur e to develop occupational skin cancer has been vastly neglected. UV solar r adiation is classified by the World Health Organisation as a group 1 carcin ogen, alongside substances such as plutonium and asbestos. Recent studies s how that outdoor workers are at an at least twofold risk of developing NMSC compared to the general population. Also, no exposure limits for outdoor w orkers prevail. Affected workers still go unnoticed, un(der)reported, unsc reened, uncared for at early stages, and uncompensated. with a workforce of approx. 14.5 million occupied for at least 75% of their work time outdoors , in Europe alone, attention on the invisible risk of UV exposure to develo p occupational skin cancer has been vastly neglected. This is all the more astonishing as recent studies show that outdoor workers are at an at least twofold risk of developing NMSC compared to the general population. Also, no exposure limits for outdoor workers prevail. Affected workers still go unnoticed, un(der)reported, unscreened, uncared for at early stages, and un compensated. The policy debate aims at mobilizing policy-makers to tackle t hese so far unmet pressing political, medical and health and safety needs i n this field of occupational health, and to have this carcinogen included i n the Directive on Carcinogens and Mutagens (CMD III).
