Now that the summer is finally here – sort of – outdoor workers are being warned of the dangers of skin cancer.
Constructing Better Health, the not-for-profit organisation committed to improving the health of the construction, building services and FM sector workforces, recently launched a year-long skin cancer awareness campaign to raise awareness of and funds for dealing with what it says is the UK’s fastest-growing cancer.
Said the organisation’s CEO, Michelle Aldous: “Skin cancer in outdoor workers is one of the seemingly forgotten areas of health issues that affect our industry-sector workforce. It is difficult to get our heads around the official statistics; however, they indicate that more people die in the UK from skin cancer than in Australia. As part of our commitment to improving the health of the construction industry workforce, our key campaign objective is to educate on prevention and protection from the disease.”
The campaign is being run in partnership with piping manufacturer Polypipe and The Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity (Skcin), with all funds raised going to the latter. Throughout the year, CBH and Polypipe will be visiting construction sites to engage and encourage employers and employees in raising awareness of this largely preventable killer.
According to CBH, more than 10,500 cases of malignant melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) are diagnosed every year in the UK. It also cites a recent study from the University of Manchester, which found that cases of cancerous melanoma in construction workers specifically have increased significantly.
Richard Clifford, a trustee of Skcin, commented: “With seven people dying every day in the UK from skin cancer – a largely preventable disease – there is a real sense of urgency to educate people about the dangers of over-exposure to UV and the early detection of skin cancers. We are very pleased to be working with CBH on their campaign and hope it will encourage construction workers, a key at-risk group for skin cancer, to protect themselves when they are outdoors and to check their skin regularly.”
A series of roadshows will be held over the coming weeks, and two major fundraising events are also planned – a charity golf day on 5 September, and a charity comedy night in February 2012. To find out more about these events and the overall campaign, visit www.cbhscheme.com/Skin-Cancer-Awareness-Campaign
