• 28
  • July
    2010

When most people think about workers' compensation and work-related injuries, they think of construction injuries, strained backs, chemical exposure, or something of that nature. However, a recent study released by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, indicated that professional drivers may be at greater risk of developing skin cancer due to their line of work.

According to Scott Fosko, the chairman of dermatology at St. Louis University School of Medicine and coauthor of the study, the cumulative effect of being exposed to the sun over the course of many years increases the risk of developing cancers of the skin. In professional drivers, it appears there is increased risk of developing facial skin cancers, in particular on the left side of the body.

The American Cancer Society reports that more than one million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are diagnosed as sun-related each year in the United States. The most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma, accounts for most of the 12,000 annual deaths associated with skin-related cancers.

In order to prevent excessive sun exposure while driving, Fosko advises that drivers to think about safety equipment just as they would if they worked in a factory. Instead of a hardhat and steel-toed boots, professional drivers should instead get in the habit of regularly applying sunscreen, wearing long sleeves, and taking advantage of tinted windows or ultraviolent light filters available in some vehicles.

While the study seems to tie the work-related functions of a driver to skin cancer, it might still be difficult to make a workers' compensation claim based on the development of skin cancer. Generally speaking, a worker would still have to show that the cancer was causally connected to the performance of their particular job, which might be difficult to prove, especially if a worker also spends a great deal of time out in the sun when he or she is away from work.

Of course, any potential case for benefits is based on its own facts and circumstances, so if you think your work-related driving may have led to the development of skin cancer, it is best to speak with someone about your claim to see if it might be worth pursuing.

Related Resources:

Professional drivers at risk of skin cancer from sun exposure (Risk & Insurance)