PROTECT YOUR SKIN YOUR HEALTH AT SEA 3 Merchant Fishing Yachts
Contents Introduction....3 Where are the global high risk areas?...4 Who is at risk from skin cancer...5 What are the dangers....5 Can I protect myself.... 6-9 Further Reading....10 2
Introduction A sunny day makes most of us feel good, but too much exposure to direct sunlight can be hard on the skin. The problem arises from the ultra violet (UV) rays in sunlight. Seafarers whose duty keeps them outside accommodation spaces and on exposed deck areas in direct sunlight for long periods of time may receive more direct sunlight on their skin than is healthy for them. Deck Department Personnel carrying out mooring deck duties or external painting duties; Engineering Department personnel carrying out deck machinery maintenance duties and hotel personnel carrying out store loading duties should read this leaflet. 3
Where are the global high-risk areas? in the TROPICS... many seafarers travel through the region between the tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Between these equatorial latitudes the sun is mainly overhead for a large proportion of the day and searing, intense heat can be experienced. The UV levels in these regions are higher than in the regions immediately north and south of these latitudes. in the ARCTIC REGIONS... some seafarers travel through the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The UV levels in these regions may well exceed those UV levels experienced in the Tropical regions due to the depletion of the Ozone layer. Areas such as Northern Norway and South Australia are also prone to very high UV levels, again due to Ozone layer depletion. 4
Who is at risk of skin cancer? Some seafarers are more liable to skin cancer than others. Seafarers of Caucasian origin are at most risk. Take particular care if you have : fair freckled skin that does not tan, or burns before it tans; a large number of moles - over 100 moles in young people, or over 50 moles in older people; red or fair hair; light coloured eyes. Seafarers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin are at almost no risk, but seafarers of ALL skin colours can suffer from overheating and dehydration. What are the dangers? In the short term... sunburn can blister your skin and make it peel. During the European summer months, even on cloudy days, enough UV rays can filter through to cause burning on the skin. In the long term... the most serious effect is an increased chance of contracting skin cancer later in life. It is almost always easy to cure, but only if caught in its early stages of development. Too much direct sunlight will speed up the ageing of your skin, making it leathery, mottled and wrinkled. 5
Can I protect myself? Yes. But you may need to make a few changes now. You should be particularly careful while you are working outside accommodation spaces and on exposed deck areas in direct sunlight in the summer months of European type climatic regions, in the three to four hours before midday. In the Tropical regions and other global high-risk areas, care should be taken during the five to six hours around mid-day. The sunlight is most intense during these times. Don t get burned Get to know how your skin reacts to sunlight. This will help you decide what precautions to take. Getting burnt now may increase your chances of developing skin cancer many years later. Try to avoid the reddening, that is the first sign of getting burnt. A suntan may give some protection against burning but does not eliminate the long term cancer risk; nor will it protect against premature ageing. The best protection is to shade your skin from direct sunlight. When on leave take care not to get burnt - your skin remembers every exposure. 6
Clothing Cover up. Ordinary clothing made from close-woven fabric such as long sleeved boiler suits and long sleeved work shirts and work trousers will stop most of the UV. Wear your safety helmet or safety hat when in working areas. A safety helmet or safety hat will provide some shade to your head. A hanging flap attachment can protect the back of your neck especially if you are leaning forward to work. When ashore or during a rest period, wear a hat with a wide brim. Shade over the crown of your head and facial area is most important, as it is these areas which suffer most from direct sunlight. Keep your upper body covered with your work shirt or boiler suit, especially around the mid-day period. Don t be tempted to take them off - skin that has not been exposed to the sun for months burns easily. Sunscreens Hats and other clothing are the best form of protection. Sunscreen creams and lotions can add useful protection for parts of your body that are not easy to shade from sunlight. In the European type climatic regions look for, and use a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of 10 or more. In the Tropical regions and other global high-risk areas look for and use a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of 30 or more. Always read the supplier s instruction on how creams and lotions should be applied. Don t forget the backs of your hands, ear lobes and nose. 7
No sunscreen - no matter how high the factor - can offer 100 per cent protection. It will only provide the right amount of protection if it is applied generously and regularly. On average, people put on about a quarter as much sunscreen as they should - at these levels, research has shown that even a sunscreen with SPF80 only provides an actual SPF of 3. Cancer Research UK Check your skin The first warning sign is often a small scabby, spot, which does not clear after a few weeks. Look for changed or newly formed moles or any skin discolouration. It is normal for moles to grow until you are about 18 years of age. As an adult you should pay particular attention to any growths which appear on the face, especially round your nose and eyes, or on the backs of your hands. You should pay particular attention to any moles, which grow or change appearance. If you notice any of these signs especially any moles which grow or change in shape, it is important that you request your ship s Master or Officer in charge of medical stores to make an appointment for you to consult a Medical Practitioner in the next convenient port of call. If your ship carries a doctor consult him or her; if on leave your General Practitioner (GP). 8
If you are on leave show your GP this leaflet and explain that you work at sea and have worked in shipboard areas and exposed to direct sunlight. Fortunately most of these signs will be harmless, but medical checks may be needed to be sure. Even if a spot is cancerous, simple modern treatments can usually cure it and most do not spread to other parts of the body. The smaller the spot the easier it is to cure. So do not put off making a medical consultation when you know you should. If you have any kind of medical check up, ask the Medical Practitioner if there are any suspicious signs on your skin. DON T DELAY...DO IT TODAY If you think something might be wrong get it looked at immediately. Remember it s your body and your life. 9
Further Reading www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of-the-skin Cancer Research UK : www.sunsmart.org.uk/advice-and-prevention/index.htm www.skincancerfacts.org.uk / help.asp 10
Leaflet produced by: Maritime & Coastguard Agency Seafarer Safety and Health Branch Spring Place 105 Commercial Road Southampton SO15 1EG Tel 02380 329 328 Fax 02380 329 251 Email infoline@mcga.gov.uk Email seafarer.s&h@mcga.gov.uk Further copies of leaflet available for FREE from : MCA Customer Line EC GROUP Tel 08456 032 431 Fax 01375 484 556 Email mca@ecgroup.co.uk This publication is available in a number of languages and formats. Please email diversity.monitoring@mcga.gov.uk or call 02380 329 387 if you would like one Printed on material comprising a minimum of 75% post consumer waste Published January 2010 MCA/111