TOOLSTATION has teamed up with cancer support charity Macmillan for a new campaign designed to raise awareness of skin cancer among tradespeople.
Developed by PR agency Finn Partners, ‘Sunburn Swatch’ is targeted at those working outdoors. The campaign features images of different sun swatches to represent skin types, alongside statistics of how many tradespeople use sun protection on site.
Research commissioned by Toolstation revealed that only 48% of tradespeople worry about getting burnt while they are working outside. 24% skip wearing sun protection while working outside in the summer months, despite 68% always or often wearing it while on holiday.
The poll also found that 59% of customers who work in a trade had suffered from sunburn working outside while on the job. Half of trade customers who rarely or never wear sunscreen when working outside in the summer said they don’t wear protection because they forget or don’t think about it before going to work, while 14% don’t think they need it. The same proportion (14%) opt against wearing it because they see it as an inconvenience.
Greg Richardson at Toolstation said, “We know that tradespeople don’t have much time on their hands so prioritising suncare can be difficult but it’s really important that tradespeople are well informed about the implications of being burnt while working in the sun and the steps they can take to minimise that risk. We hope this campaign helps them overcome that risk and will make wearing sun cream when working outdoors as common as PPE.”
Rebecca Fanning at Macmillan Cancer Support added, “Skin cancer is often linked to UV exposure, and we know that up to 9 in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer in the UK could be prevented by staying safe in the sun. Working with Toolstation, we’re doing whatever it takes to help more people with cancer to get the best possible care. By doing something as simple as applying SPF when out in the sun, tradespeople across the UK can minimise their risk of skin cancer and help reduce the number of people who need Macmillan’s support in the first place.”
