People working in production agriculture spend a lot of time out in the sun, and their risks are high for skin cancer. While the warm sun often feels good on the skin, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from overexposure and reduce skin-related risks.
The Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center says appropriate sun protection includes covering the whole body with clothing, wearing a hat with a full brim, having adequate sunscreen coverage, and sunglasses. As a part of its safety checklist, they remind farmers to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when out in the sun.
Hats should be wide-brimmed and all the way around the head. An appropriate sunscreen should be anywhere between SPF 30-50 and should be reapplied every two hours or more frequently with heavy sweating. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes. Check your skin regularly and talk to a doctor about any changes you see.
