A new campaign aimed at preventing occupational skin diseases and upgrading workplace safety in the Ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado, kicked off today at the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority headquarters of Palazzo San Giorgio, with the presentation of the SKINPORT PROJECT - SKIN Health in PORT Workers -, dedicated to the mitigation of risks associated with exposure to UV radiation. The project has been extended to incorporate the Ports of Genoa across a partnership involving the Port Authority, Galliera Hospital and the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI), alongside the Ports of Gioia Tauro and Ravenna.
Participation in SKINPORT forms part of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority’s broader strategy to enhance occupational safety and reduce health hazards in the workplace, by integrating prevention and safety measures into overall operational policies. The project responds to accepted scientific evidence highlighting the dangers posed by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Reflective surfaces, working during the hottest hours of the day and maintaining prolonged static postures all contribute to an increased cumulative risk of melanoma, skin carcinomas and actinic keratoses, conditions acknowledged by the World Health Organization as related to unprotected sun exposure.
Across Europe, over 10 million workers are exposed to UV radiation, including approximately 700,000 in Italy. Studies conducted as part of the Healthy Skin@Work project have shown that levels of exposure frequently exceed recommended safety thresholds, underlining the urgent need for structured measures of prevention.
Against this backdrop, SKINPORT introduces a set of best practices designed to support workers operating in high-risk environments through monitoring, training and awareness-raising activities focused on occupational skin diseases. The initiative begins with the distribution of anonymous questionnaires to workers to evaluate levels of risk awareness, analyse protective behaviour already in place and encourage the use of self-assessment tools for early diagnosis. The data collected will contribute to the implementation of a national protocol, bringing together dermatological centres and healthcare institutions, with the objective of integrating permanently screening and prevention into everyday port operations.
In his opening address, Matteo Paroli, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, reaffirmed the central importance of health and prevention, linking the issue to the broader concept of sustainable port development that respects both workers’ wellbeing and the surrounding environment: “Protecting the health of the people who work in our ports every day is a priority. The strong performance of our maritime hub relies on the work of thousands of people, and the quality of the service provided also depends on our ability to guarantee conditions that place occupational safety and prevention at the forefront. We are proud to share our experience in pursuing a common objective: successfully reconciling economic growth with environmental sustainability. The collaboration with Galliera Hospital and the scientific community further confirms the value of an integrated and multidisciplinary approach capable of transforming research into practical prevention tools. The Ports of Genoa should not be viewed merely as a major logistic hub, but also as socially responsible maritime gateways where safety, innovation and workers’ wellbeing are fundamental drivers of competitiveness and sustainable development.”
