New Sun Safety Campaign Targets Outdoor Workers

The SunSmart team at Cancer Council WA have launched a new campaign urging outdoor workers to make sun protection part of their daily routine, with research[1] showing they face up to 10 times more ultraviolet (UV) exposure than indoor workers and are at significantly higher risk of skin cancer.

SunSmart Manager, Sally Blane, said the campaign, titled ‘Change your routine, before skin cancer changes it for you’, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of workplace UV exposure and encourage outdoor workers to take simple protective steps.

“The workplace is a major source of UV radiation for many Australians. It’s estimated that around 200[2] melanomas and 34,000 other skin cancers diagnosed each year are the direct result of UV exposure on the job,” Ms Blane said.

“With October being National Safe Work Month, and with 22 per cent of Australians exposed to UV at work, this is the perfect time to highlight the importance of sun safety as part of workplace safety.”

A recent Cancer Council WA study* of outdoor workers found that while most take some protective measures, significant gaps in protection remain.

“The most common action taken was wearing sunglasses (68 per cent), but only 41 per cent reported wearing a broad-brimmed hat,” she said.

“We urge employers and workers alike to prioritise sun safety.

“You wouldn’t send workers onsite without a hard hat or steel-capped boots and sun protection should be treated the same way.

“To reduce UV exposure, we recommend sunglasses, long-sleeved clothing, sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, and staying in the shade wherever possible.”

The campaign, originally developed by the Cancer Institute NSW and licensed for use in WA, will run on YouTube and social media through to March 2026. It will primarily target men aged 18–55, particularly those over 40, working in industries such as construction and agriculture.

Watch the campaign video

About the research

Research conducted by Cancer Council WA with 511 Western Australian outdoor workers (defined as those worked outdoor during daylight hours for at least one hour per day found that:

• The most commonly used measure was wearing sunglasses (68% always or usually)
• Of those working in the construction industry, the majority wore sunglasses (70%) and clothing that covered their arms and legs (65%), while around half (51%) wore a broad-brimmed hat.
• Workers were less likely to apply sunscreen (42%) or stay in the shade (30%)
• Compared to those in construction, those working in agriculture, forestry and fishing were slightly less likely to wear sunglasses (65%), clothing that covered their arms and legs (55%), broad-brimmed hat (45%), sunscreen (45%) and shade (20%).
• Nearly 1 in 4 workers employed by an organisation or business who work outdoors for more than one hour per day reported that their employer does not do anything to help them reduce their sun exposure

To view the survey findings, visit our news article: “I’m always getting burnt” WA workers experiences of sun protection in the workplace

For more information on sun protection for outdoor workers, visit:

• our Outdoor Workers page
• the Cancer Council WA website

[1] Gies, P. and J. Wright, Measured Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Exposures of Outdoor Workers in Queensland in the Building and Construction Industry. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2003. 78(4): p. 342–348.

[2] Fritschi L, Driscoll T. Cancer due to occupation in Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 2006 Jun;30(3):213-9