Background: UV-light exposure is the most important risk factor for cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal-cell carcinoma (BCC). In Germany employees at several work-places are exposed to increased levels of UV-light. Therefore, the inclusion of SCC and BCC induced by work-related UV-exposure into the German list of occupational diseases is currently being discussed. Methods: The published epidemiologic literature (cohort studies and case-control studies) concerning the relationship between occupational UV-exposure and risk of SCC and BCC are discussed systematically - including a meta-analysis (random effects model) of fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of qualitatively homogeneous studies. The impact of methodological quality criteria on the strength of association between occupational UV-exposure and risk of skin cancer as part of the sensitivity analysis are investigated. Results: A total of 18 studies investigated the association between occupational UV-exposure and SCC-risk. Sixteen studies consistently found an increased risk of SCC in the exposed group. Two studies found no association. In summary, there was a statistically significant and relevant association between work-related UV-exposure and SCC-risk (pooled OR = 1.77; 95% confidence-interval (95%CI) 1.40-2.22). The true association between work-related UV-exposure and SCC-risk appears to be under-estimated due to imprecise exposure assessment. Overall, the 24 epidemiologic studies concerning the role of work-related UV-exposure as a risk factor for BCC also showed a significant association (pooled OR = 1.42; 95%CI 1.23 - 1.66). The majority of studies found a positive and none of the studies a statistically significant inverse relationship between work-related UV-exposure and BCC-risk. Conclusions: Epidemiologial studies document a positive statistically significant and relevant association between work-related UV-exposure and SCC-risk, so that one relevant criterion for a new occupational disease appears to be fulfilled. Epidemiologic evidence also indicates a significant association between work-related UV-exposure and BCC-risk. The studies concerning BCC are, however, less consistent and the association is less strong - at least in the currently published studies, in which UV-exposure was not measured differentially enough. Therefore, more methodologically sound epidemiologic evidence appears to be necessary before BCC induced by work-related UV-exposure may possibly be added to the German list of occupational diseases.