Should Farmers Wear Caps in the Fields?
What is the true significance of hats for farmers?
The sun’s rays are essential for crops, but prolonged unguarded exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays can lead to skin cancer. For farmers and outdoor workers, using the correct headgear could mean the difference between life and death.
The question “should farmers wear caps in the fields?” is one that elicits a lot of reactions; some stronger than others. However, both with the same underlying response: yes, farmers should wear caps on their farmland for obvious reasons, but mainly because caps do not only protect farmers from the harsh realities of nature’s elements but they also protect the head, and it’s primary organ — the brain.
For a few years now, the popularity of baseball caps, or face caps as they are conventionally called, has skyrocketed especially among millennial farmers because they are comfortable, colourful and convenient. However, studies carried out by The National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield, Wisconsin; state that baseball caps don’t satisfactorily shield farmers in the fields from the sun and the risks of cancer. Because the human ear tip is especially prone to cancer, according to Barbara Lee, who is a spokeswoman for the center, farmers should instead, wear wide-brimmed hats as these hats tend to protect the neck, ears, and temples from the realities of the harsh sun.
Furthermore, to prevent skin cancer, farmers should use sunscreen regularly. For example, using a product with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 will block about 94 percent of the ultraviolet B rays that are more than likely to cause skin cancer in the long run. The SPF factor is a rating that multiplies the protection that is naturally provided by the skin. For farmers who work for extended hours in the sun, an SPF 15 sunscreen allows them fifteen hours of protection before their skin becomes wholly exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. As a farmer, it is also imperative to dress appropriately as well. Wear lightweight long-sleeved shirts and trousers. Also, farm workers should never go shirtless as this leads to increased risk in the long run. Because the sun is most active between the hours of 10 a.m., and 3 p.m., dermatologists have recommended time and again that farmers not work during these hours. However, this is not a practical solution for most farmers — as these hours fall between their peak farming periods which is why the use of sunscreen and protective headgear and clothing by farmers is so imperative.
Finally, sunglasses are a must. The prolonged exposure to the sun can damage the retina, cornea and the lens of the eye.
In summary, farmers should wear caps for their safety but also, this is largely dependent on the types of caps that they wear and as our article pointed out, at what times of the day that they wear it. Are you a farmer or do you have a relative who is a farmer? What are your thoughts on this article? Share them in the comments below.
