Farmer defensive over sunsmart

A Northland farmer is defending the sector's sunsmart practices saying farmers always wear hats but seldom slap on sunscreen because they're wearing long-sleeved shirts.

An Otago University study has found fewer than a third of outdoor workers wear sunscreen or protective hats - putting them at heightened risk of developing skin cancer.

Northland Federated Farmers spokesman Roger Ludbrook refused to comment on the study findings on behalf of the organisation, but said farmers in Northland always wore hats, long-sleeves and shirts with collars.

"We generally don't take our hats off. Yes, we don't wear sunscreen but that is because we have on layers of clothing. "I can't comment on other farmers but from my point of view, it is very seldom you see one without a hat."

The study surveyed 1000 workers across nine outdoor industry groups and found that forestry, horticulture, construction and farming had the lowest average sun protection scores.

Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills said farmers who failed to protect themselves from the sun were paying the price with skin cancer.

"I'm now having melanoma spots cut out as are other farmers I know," Mr Wills said.

He said farmers were an older generation who were never told of the sun's dangers until it was too late.

"It was something we just didn't speak about growing up - no one wore sunblock and there was none of this slip, slop, slap and wrap. It can be hard to break old habits," Mr Wills said.

The study's lead author Associate Professor Tony Reeder said this was a basic health and safety issue for all outdoor workers.

"New Zealand really needs to do better in this regard," he said. Skin cancer accounts for 80 per cent of cancers registered in New Zealand each year. About 2000 of those are melanoma. APNZ