Why Skin Checks Are Essential in the Australian Workplace

Australia has some of the highest rates of skin cancer globally, with strong links between occupational UV exposure and skin cancer risk particularly melanoma and non-melanoma cancers. Every employer (PCBU) has a legal duty to create a safe workplace that reduces risks from harmful UV radiation. Regular onsite skin checks are a proven way to support this duty of care, detecting early signs of skin cancer, assessing sun damage, and encouraging sun safety at work.​

High-risk outdoor professions include construction, mining, agriculture, logistics, transport, marine, utilities, and trades. However, any worker with significant sun exposure, including warehouse staff and drivers, can benefit from routine skin examinations. Sun protection and regular workplace melanoma screening form a vital part of a comprehensive workplace health strategy.​

Skin Check

What’s Included in Every Workplace Skin Check

  • Full body skin examination, from head to toe (or partial exam per employee preference)
  • Dermatoscope used by a trained and experienced nurse or clinician, giving magnified skin and mole assessment
  • Detailed review of sun-damaged areas and risk-prone moles
  • Immediate advice for suspicious lesions with photographic documentation for follow-up
  • Assessment of personal and occupational UV exposure risk
  • Comprehensive skin check data securely recorded for reporting and referrals

Types of Skin Check Services We Offer

  • Onsite skin examinations for all employees, tailored to your schedule and workforce type
  • Corporate skin cancer screening as a mobile wellness initiative
  • Comprehensive mole mapping and high-risk skin assessment
  • Bulk screening for construction, mining, agriculture, warehousing, and logistics worksites
  • Onsite follow-up with dermatology referral pathways for urgent or at-risk findings
  • Support for sun safety education, policy development, and UV hazard management training​

How Audiometrics & Medical Personnel Can Help

Audiometrics & Medical Personnel specialise in bringing health surveillance directly to your workplace. We work with businesses across NSW and Victoria to integrate skin cancer screening into their OHS programs. Our on-site service provides:

  • Convenient Scheduling: We coordinate with you to set up screening days at your facility. We can accommodate shift work and staggered visits to avoid interrupting production.

  • Experienced Clinical Staff: Our nurses and health professionals are trained in skin cancer screening and dermatoscopy. They follow up-to-date protocols for identifying melanoma and non-melanoma lesions.
  • Comprehensive Equipment: We bring all necessary tools – including dermatoscopes, lighting, and digital cameras – so you don’t need to provide special facilities.

  • Integrated Follow-up: After screening, we compile individual assessment results. Employees with flagged spots receive written recommendations to see a dermatologist, and we can help your HR or safety team manage these referrals.

  • Education and Support: We provide information on sun safety and risk reduction. Our staff can answer questions about UV protection, sunscreen use, and workplace sun-safe practices.
Skin checking for Farm worker

By partnering with Audiometrics, companies fulfil their duty of care and can demonstrate a proactive approach to occupational health. On-site screening makes it much more likely that busy employees will participate than requiring them to book separate appointments.

On-site Workplace Skin Checks vs. Standard Clinic-Based Screening

 
FeatureOn-site Workplace Skin ChecksStandard Clinic-Based Screening
ConvenienceConducted at your workplace—no travel; minimal downtime for staff.Employees must schedule individual visits, taking time off work.
ParticipationGroup appointments encourage high uptake across all employees.Lower turnout—some may skip due to inconvenience or cost.
Examination DetailFull head-to-toe exam by a specialist nurse (including difficult areas). Dermatoscope used on every person.Often limited exam or only targeted areas; dermatoscopy may not be standard.
Follow-up CoordinationImmediate referral advice provided on-site; follow-ups can be arranged through the program.Employees must seek out their own follow-up if anything is found.
Custom ReportingWe deliver a company report summarising results and recommendations for your workplace.Employees only get individual notes; no aggregate workplace feedback.
ComplianceHelps meet WHS requirements for workplace health checks and UV risk control.No integration with company’s WHS program; risk controls rely on employee initiative.

Custom Assessment Report

After screening your employees, we provide a comprehensive report tailored to your workplace. The report typically includes:

  • Summary of Findings: Total number of employees screened; number referred for follow-up.

  • Individual Outcomes: (Confidential) list of any flagged cases, with recommended action (provided to each employee privately).

  • Aggregate Risk Analysis: General observations (e.g. prevalence of sun damage in your workforce, high-risk groups identified).

  • Recommendations: Advice on sun-safety improvements, policy updates, or further health initiatives (e.g. introducing mandatory sunscreen or shade structures).

  • Regulatory Compliance: Confirmation that the screening met relevant WHS guidelines.

 

This custom report helps your safety team understand workforce risk factors and supports reporting to management or safety regulators. It also serves as a record of due diligence in protecting employee health.

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Relevant Standards and Regulatory Guidelines

Australian and state workplace safety regulations explicitly recognise UV exposure as a hazard that must be managed. For example:

Work Health and Safety Act (WHS Act 2011) in NSW and the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 in Victoria both require employers to maintain a work environment “safe and without risks to health”. Employers must identify hazards (like UV radiation) and control them so far as is reasonably practicable.


Safe Work Australia guidance highlights that “solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the leading cause of skin cancer in Australia”. PCBUs must manage the risk of sun-related injury and disease, just as they would chemical or noise hazards.


WorkSafe Victoria notes that outdoor workers are generally 5–10 times more exposed to UV than indoor workers. It recommends year-round sun protection (clothing, hats, sunscreen, shade) and requiring employers to implement UV risk controls.


SafeWork NSW (via ARPANSA guidance) likewise advises that UV is a non-ionising radiation hazard which can cause skin cancer and that PCBUs have a duty of care to apply the hierarchy of controls.

By conducting regular workplace skin screenings, employers align with these guidelines and demonstrate compliance. This is often part of a broader sun-safety policy, which might include risk assessments, provision of PPE (wide-brim hats, sunscreen), and training on UV awareness.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I organise a workplace skin screening?
    Contact us by phone or email to plan an onsite visit at your workplace. We manage all logistics including employee scheduling and privacy, and can adapt to any site or shift roster.

  2. What benefits do onsite skin checks offer?
    They provide convenience and privacy for employees, increase screening rates, enable early detection of skin cancers, support sun safety education, and meet regulatory compliance needs.

  3. Can employees decline or tailor their exam?
    Yes, each person chooses a full or partial skin exam, offered in private settings by clinical staff.

  4. What if a suspicious mole is found?
    We provide instant photographic documentation and urgent dermatology referral advice, with follow-up pathways for ongoing care.

  5. Why is this important for indoor workers too?
    Intermittent or cumulative UV exposure, such as commuting or warehouse work with sunlight exposure, also increases skin cancer risk.

  6. Can the checks help us with advice on sun safety policies?
    Absolutely. We support workplaces with tailored UV safety policies, sun protection recommendations, and staff education.

  7. What happens during a workplace skin check, and how do employees prepare?
    Each employee is seen one-on-one in a private area at your workplace. They change into a gown (supplied) or otherwise remove the top layer of clothing so the skin can be examined. A nurse then inspects the skin from head to toe, including hidden areas like the scalp, back, and feet. The nurse may use a magnifying dermatoscope to look at moles more closely and take notes. The process takes about 5–10 minutes per person. No special preparation is needed beforehand, other than wearing clothes that are easy to change out of. For example, a factory we serviced scheduled the exams alongside annual health checks so all 50 workers could participate without losing production time. After the exam, the nurse discusses any notable findings privately with that employee.

  8. Who should have a skin check, and how often?
    All outdoor and high UV-exposed employees should be offered annual or biannual checks. This includes construction, farming, transport, mining, warehousing, and other outdoor occupations. Employees with a family history of skin cancer, many moles, fair skin, or a history of sunburn are especially encouraged. For instance, one client with a mix of indoor and outdoor staff found that two workers with a history of sunburn had suspicious lesions flagged, underscoring the value of routine checks. Even indoor workers can benefit if they spend break time outside or work near reflective surfaces. We recommend scheduling annual workplace screening days so no one misses out on this preventive care.

  9. Is the exam confidential and voluntary?
    Yes. Participation is entirely voluntary and confidential. Each employee’s findings are documented privately and only shared with that individual (and, if authorized, the company’s safety officer). Employers receive only aggregated reports, not personal medical records. Employees are free to say how much clothing they are comfortable having examined; even a partial check can identify many issues. Our experience is that workers appreciate the convenience and respect for privacy. After one screening event at a warehouse, an employee told us he was relieved he could have his routine check without making a doctor’s appointment.

  10. What if a suspicious lesion is found?
    If the nurse identifies anything concerning – for example, an irregular mole – that person is given a recommendation to see a dermatologist. We assist by providing them with information on local skin specialists and can help expedite referrals if needed. In our programs, about 1–2% of screened individuals typically need follow-up. As an example, in one outdoor workforce 2 workers were found with potentially malignant lesions and referred; both turned out to be early melanomas successfully removed. Meanwhile, workers with only benign findings are told their results and encouraged to continue self-exams.

  11. How do we organise an on-site skin check event?
    It’s straightforward. You contact us (via phone or email) with details of your company and approximate number of employees. We schedule a date and send a brief checklist to help you prepare (private space, appointment slots, sign-up sheets if needed). On the day, we arrive with our screening kit and staff, set up a private tent or room for exams, and screen employees in quick succession. We provide all forms and instructions. Afterward, we send you a report and arrange any needed feedback. Many clients combine it with wellness days or annual check-ups.

Get Started with On-Site Skin Checks

Protect your team with professional on-site skin screening – it’s an easy, effective way to reduce skin cancer risk at work. Contact Audiometrics & Medical Personnel today to book a workplace skin check for your NSW or Victorian staff. Call 03 9819 4355 or [email protected] or for more information and to schedule a screening. Our friendly team will guide you through every step. Don’t wait – skin cancer can be treated successfully if caught early, and your employees’ health is too important to overlook.