01-05-2025
SunSmart – efforts to promote skin cancer awareness among farmers
A campaign has begun to raise awareness among farmers about the precautions they should take when working outdoors.
The SunSmart campaign, a partnership between Bord Bia, the HSE's National Cancer Programme (NCCP), and Healthy Ireland, will run throughout the summer to encourage Bord Bia's farmer members to protect their skin while outdoors.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 cases annually, many of which are preventable.
Bord Bia auditors will distribute SunSmart for Farmers leaflets to all beef, dairy, and sheep farmers during their Bord Bia audit. With approximately 780 farms visited weekly by Bord Bia auditors, the campaign will reach over 12,000 farmers during the period of peak UV exposure.
Speaking on the launch, Agricultural Sustainability Co-ordinator with Bord Bia, Eoghan Geraghty said: 'Bord Bia is leveraging our access to the Irish farming community to support the HSE and Healthy Ireland's annual SunSmart campaign… Through this simple step, we hope to prompt farmers to better protect their skin from the sun every day, whether out in the field, inside the tractor cab, or on a cloudy day.'
Farmer Ross Crowe with the SunSmart for Farmers leaflet, which will be distributed by Bord Bia auditors this summer at part of the HSE and Healthy Ireland's annual SunSmart awareness campaign. Ross is the farm manager of Patsy and Susan Ahern's farm in Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.
The leaflet outlines clear, actionable steps that farmers can take to protect themselves and their staff from sun damage, including checking their skin and moles regularly for changes.
Farmers are advised to follow the SunSmart 5S rule: slip, slop, slap, seek, slide. Slip on clothing that covers your skin, like long-sleeved tops and collared shirts. Slop on broad-spectrum sunscreen (minimum of SPF30+ for adults and 50+ for children. Apply on all exposed skin 20 minutes before heading outside and then reapply every 2 hours or more regularly if you are sweating. Slap on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and neck. Seek shade between high UV times (11 am-3 pm) or plan working outdoors to be earlier or later in the day to avoid too much exposure. Slide on sunglasses to protect your eyes.
The leaflet contains an 'ABCDE' checklist to help farmers know if a mole or patch of skin might be melanoma skin cancer. It is important to note that normal moles usually stay the same size, shape, and colour.
Asymmetry (A) occurs when one half of the mole is not the same as the other. Border (B), whether the edges or border of a mole is irregular, blurry or jagged. Colour (C) if the mole is uneven in colour. It could have different shades of black, brown and pink in it. Diameter (D) refers to the size of the mole. Melanomas may grow more than 6mm, i.e. the width of a pencil. Evolution (E) this is if the mole is changing. A mole may change in size, shape, or colour and may also start to itch or bleed.
Ann-Marie Lawlor, Senior Health Promotion and Improvement Officer with the HSE, added: 'Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with those working outdoors particularly at risk. Farmers and other outdoor workers receive two to three times more UV radiation than those working indoors, making them more vulnerable to skin cancer. Through this joint initiative with Bord Bia, we're placing life-saving advice directly in farmers' hands. Small protective habits today can make a big difference for long-term health.'
This campaign forms part of the HSE and Healthy Ireland's wider SunSmart awareness efforts, encouraging people across Ireland to enjoy the sun safely and reduce their risk of skin cancer.
