The Otago researchers have undertaken the largest New Zealand study of its kind into sun protection practices among outdoor workers.
And findings have just been published in the latest issue of the international Journal of Occupation Health.
Researchers surveyed more than 1000 workers across nine outdoor occupations, finding only about a third of workers wore sunscreen or a suitably protective hat.
Outdoor workers make up nearly 15% of New Zealand's workforce.
Study lead author Associate Prof Tony Reeder said the findings showed average levels of personal sun protection were poor across outdoor occupational groups surveyed - forestry, roading, sawmilling, postal delivery, viticulture, landscaping, construction, horticulture and farming. Viticulture was the highest-scoring group, but ''still managed only 3.2 out of a possible score of 8''.
Prof Reeder, who is director of the Cancer Society of New Zealand social and behavioural research unit at the university, said ''personal protection'' was scored on practices such as wearing hats, other protective clothing, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Hat-wearing was the most commonly reported protective practice, but only one-third of hats worn were types that shaded the face, neck and ears.
''Our research suggests that workplaces need to lead the way by providing appropriate protective gear and promoting a collective culture in which sun protection is seen as a priority.''
Employees were ''more likely to protect themselves if their workplaces provided sun-protective equipment and supported and promoted its use''.
Given the burden skin cancer placed on the health system and its impact on individual patients, it was time to ''get serious'' about limiting harmful occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation for outdoor workers.
In the workplace, such workers deserved to be provided with suitable sun-protective gear, including clip-on neck veils for hard hats. .
Some employers and other organisations were clearly ''doing a good job'' but ''more progress'' was needed.
Prof Reeder and a colleague, Bronwen McNoe, have made a submission from the Cancer Society unit to the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety, urging the development of a SunSmart culture in outdoor workplaces.
This country has one of the world's highest melanoma rates, and more than 400 New Zealanders die of skin cancer every year.
