New data reveals that Australia’s tradies aren’t acting to protect themselves from the sun despite skin cancer-causing UV ration being up to ten times the rate of other workers.

YouGov research as part of the SunSmart campaign from the Australian government and Cancer Council surveyed 600 tradies across Australia and it found that there is awareness and work to be done in the area.

Nearly a quarter of tradies surveyed (24%) only rarely or occasionally wear sunscreen in the summer months. In winter this drops even more, with almost half of tradies surveyed (46%) only rarely or occasionally applying sunscreen.

Unsurprisingly, almost six in ten (58%) Aussie tradies surveyed know colleagues who have had skin cancer. While around half the tradies are confident explaining their favourite sport (52%) or how to cook the perfect steak (47%) almost three quarters (73%) admit they can’t explain how UV works, or its relationship to ‘Australia’s national cancer’.

With nine in ten tradespeople (89%) surveyed spending time outdoors on a typical workday, and over four in ten (42%) spending more than four hours working outside, the Australian government and Cancer Council are urging tradies to protect themselves against UV whenever they are outdoors.

These and other concerning findings have been released in a new YouGov report, as a part of a SunSmart campaign from the Australian Government and Cancer Council. The campaign urges Australians to be SunSmart and remember the five S’s – Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide – whenever the UV is three or above.

Cancer Council Australia chief executive, Dr Tanya Buchanan, notes that Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and regular outdoor work means that tradies are at an even higher risk than those working indoors.

“Tradies are known to have high standards when it comes to safety on site, but this data shows many aren’t fully considering sun safety as a part of their daily routines. Despite two-thirds of respondents (66%) being concerned about developing skin cancer, over a fifth (22%) don’t believe sunscreen is necessary every day,” she says.

“A few minutes each day to follow the five S’s can help prevent skin cancer caused by UV – regardless of the time of year – so it’s important for tradies to remember to be SunSmart.”

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring all Australians, and particularly our tradies, can recognise and protect themselves from the dangers of UV.

“The Australian Government has invested in this Cancer Council campaign to help remind Australians of the five S’s – only two more than the vintage Slip, Slop, Slap and give tradies and tradie organisations the tools they need to protect themselves from the dangers of UV,” former Federal Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said.

A free SunSmart Tradie Toolbox has been developed for tradies to refer to before they head onto job sites and throughout the day, with SunSmart messaging that can be quickly and easily downloaded and displayed next to safety signage on job sites.

Activates Construction owners Adam and Tarah Hastie welcome the addition of the SunSmart Tradie Toolbox, saying some simple messaging for tradies to see each day as they arrived on site was something everyone in the building and construction industry could support.

“It’s so important to make sure your hat, sunnies and sunscreen are packed as part of your everyday routine before you head off to work,” Adam says.

“I’m constantly reminding myself and my trades to be careful and remember that safety comes first on-site – and that includes being SunSmart.”

Tarah adds that there was a range of ages, backgrounds and personalities across Activates job sites, but the common theme of safety was non-negotiable: “We take our work seriously and we have fun along the way, but above all, we want to see everyone arrive and leave work safely.  A few minutes each day re-applying sunscreen or putting on some sunnies goes a long way to keeping you safe now and in the future.”

Currently, two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.

In 2021, it was estimated 16,878 people would be diagnosed with melanoma and approximately 1,400 Australians lose their lives to melanoma each year. Without action, between now and 2030, more than 14,000 Australians will lose their lives to melanoma.