AMES, Iowa – Farm workers face a major safety risk from ultraviolet (UV) exposure due to extended time outdoors, which increases the risk of skin damage and skin cancer, an Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and outreach agricultural engineer said during National Farm Safety and Health Week, Sept. 21-25.

“Farm workers are outside for many hours every day, and that adds up over a lifetime,” said Kapil Arora, ISU field agricultural engineer. “A few simple precautions can make a real difference long-term.”

Arora recommended broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, but reapplied every two hours; long sleeves, pants and SPF-rated workwear; a wide-brimmed hat or flapped cap, since standard baseball caps leave the neck and ears exposed; and wraparound sunglasses and SPF lip balm, which he said adds further protection.

“Shaded, UV-tinted cabs offer the best protection for equipment operators,” he said. “When that’s not available, schedule fieldwork outside the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. peak, and take breaks in the shade. Farm workers should have any new or changing moles, unusual skin spots, or sores that don’t heal, checked by a doctor.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year in the United States.

Rich Gassman, Iowa’s Center for Agricultural and Safety and Health (I-CASH) director at The University of Iowa College of Public Health in Iowa City, told Farm World the most common sun-related skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, with Iowa having one of the highest melanoma rates in the United States: “UV rays can damage skin, and increase the risk of skin cancer, so year-round protection is needed.”

Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, also at The University of Iowa College of Public Health, said farmers and ranchers are at greater risk of developing skin cancer than the average American because they are exposed to two-three times as much UV radiation as indoor workers.

During a recent Illinois Farm Bureau event where City of Hope offered free skin cancer screenings, 31 of the 84 individuals screened – more than one-third – had skin abnormalities and were recommended for follow-up, the center said.

“For farmers and others at high risk, regular skin cancer screenings with a physician or a dermatologist are highly recommended, at least once a year,” the center said. “These expert, full-body skin exams are key to identifying suspicious spots early and taking the appropriate steps.”