Across Australia and especially here in Western Australia, where the sun is intense, the skies are clear, and outdoor industries dominate, thousands of people work outside every single day.
Tradies, marine crews, FIFO workers, mining personnel, farmers, transport operators, landscapers, and council teams all face something they often underestimate: constant, cumulative ultraviolet (UV) exposure, even when it doesn’t feel sunny.
Many people still believe sunscreen is only necessary on scorching days or when the UV index is high. But in WA, that simply isn’t true.
The UV index here is among the highest recorded anywhere in the world, and dangerous UV levels occur even when the temperature is cool, overcast, or windy.
For outdoor workers in WA, daily sunscreen is not optional, it’s essential.
The Nambour Trial: Daily Sunscreen Works in Real-World Australian Conditions
One of the most influential pieces of Australian research on sunscreen use is the Nambour Trial. This study examined sunscreen use in everyday outdoor environments much like the conditions experienced across Western Australia.
The study found that:
- Daily sunscreen use significantly reduced the number of new actinic keratoses.
- Participants who applied sunscreen daily had far fewer sun-damaged spots compared to irregular users.
- These protective effects occurred regardless of temperature, cloud cover or “how sunny it felt.”
- Even on moderate UV days, damage still occurred but sunscreen prevented a large portion of it.
The Nambour Trial reinforces a message every Skin Cancer Screening Practitioner at Skin ChX shares with WA residents:
UV is invisible. You cannot see it or feel it, and it does not correlate with heat. You can accumulate serious damage on cool or cloudy days.
WA Outdoor Workers: Among the Most Exposed in the World
Western Australia’s geography and climate create extremely high UV exposure:
- Long hours of strong sunlight
- Clear skies for most of the year
- Reflective environments (beaches, ocean, red dirt, mine sites, roads)
- Outdoor-heavy industries such as mining, construction, agriculture, fishing, and transport
This means WA outdoor workers experience:
- chronic day-to-day UV exposure
- cumulative lifetime damage
- higher rates of sun-related skin conditions
Even when workers don’t burn, their skin is still absorbing harmful radiation that leads to:
- actinic keratoses
- basal cell carcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
This is why sunscreen must be considered PPE.
Low UV Days Still Cause Damage in WA
In WA:
- Perth has UV index readings above 3 for most of the year.
- Northern WA Port Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Broome experiences extreme UV almost year-round.
- Up to 80% of UV penetrates clouds.
- UV passes through glass, affecting vehicle-based workers.
Even when it feels cool, UV damage continues beneath the surface.
For WA workers, the safest rule is:
Apply sunscreen every morning no exceptions.
Choosing the Right Sunscreen for WA Conditions
A Skin Cancer Screening Practitioner recommends:
- SPF 50+
- Broad-spectrum UVA + UVB protection
- Water-resistant formulas
- TGA listing (AUST L)
WA workers benefit from:
- lightweight, sweat-resistant face sunscreens
- pump packs stored in vehicles or toolboxes
- tinted mineral sunscreen for additional UVA protection
- matte formulas suited for dusty worksites
Reapply every two hours, especially in dirty, hot, or sweaty conditions.
Sunscreen Works Best with Other Protection
WA workers should also use:
- UPF-rated long sleeves
- Broad-brim or legionnaires-style hats
- Safety sunglasses
- Shade during breaks
- Task rotation to reduce prolonged exposure
best-practices-for-self-skin-checks
Why WA Outdoor Workers Need Regular Skin Checks
Even with strong sun protection, WA’s UV environment means outdoor workers remain a high-risk group. Early detection is essential.
Workers should have:
- annual full-body skin checks
- more frequent checks if they already have sun damage
- immediate review of any new or changing lesions
Skin ChX provides assessments by a Skin Cancer Screening Practitioner experienced in identifying sun damage common in WA’s mining, marine, and outdoor trade sectors.
Final Message: In WA, Daily Sunscreen Is Non-Negotiable
The Nambour Trial, decades of evidence, and WA’s extreme UV conditions all point to the same conclusion: If you work outdoors in Western Australia, apply sunscreen every single day no matter the temperature, cloud cover or UV reading.
Your skin remembers every minute of UV exposure. Your protection habits today shape your future health.
Skin ChX proudly supports Western Australians with workplace skin checks, education and practical tools designed for our harsh WA sun.