CCOO demands skin cancer recognition as occupational disease

The CCOO labor union is calling for skin cancer caused by occupational solar exposure to be officially recognized as a professional disease. This demand follows a report highlighting that one in three deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer is linked to solar radiation exposure during work hours.

International data from the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization indicates that occupational ultraviolet exposure is the third most significant occupational carcinogen, following asbestos and silica dust. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer attributable to work-related sun exposure increased by 88%.

In Spain, the Spanish Association Against Cancer reports over 20,000 skin cancer diagnoses annually, with incidence rising 40% over the last four years. In the Castilla-La Mancha region, skin cancer accounts for 8.4% of all cancer cases, with approximately 1,000 diagnoses per year. The union emphasizes that prolonged exposure during work hours increases the risk of developing skin cancer by 60%, particularly for outdoor workers such as those in agriculture, construction, fishing, and sanitation.