Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Are you in the Construction or Agricultural industry? Do your employees predominantly work outside? Melanoma skin checks are essential to the health of your staff. If your employees are office-based and less exposed to the sun, this does not eliminate their risk of developing skin cancer. Melanoma is widely acknowledged as ‘Australia’s National Cancer’, and as the incidence rate continues to rise, we don’t want your workforce to be blindsided by their skin health.

At BizHealth, we offer skin check programs to ensure that your employees are well-informed and prepared for any concerns or questions they may have regarding their skin health. With an on-site and confidential consultation with one of our general practitioners or physicians, we can identify and monitor any suspicious skin areas before they become a problem. 

What is a skin check?

A skin check is a 15 to 30-minute private consultation carried out by our team of professionals. Your skin will typically be examined using a dermatoscope to determine any concerns or findings. Our team will discuss your medical history with you and identify any risk factors you may be exposed to both in day-to-day life and the workplace. The primary focus is to identify any current or developing problem areas that require observation. Any new moles, increasing in size or changing colour, will be checked. If any suspicious areas are identified, you may be referred to a skin cancer specialist for further investigation. In older individuals, the skin checks may take slightly longer as a more extensive medical history is explored. 

A frequently asked question regarding skin checks is: Does it hurt? Skin checks are painless. If necessary, any plans for removal or biopsy are scheduled for a later date and not conducted during your consultation.

To effectively monitor any potential problem areas, it is highly recommended that skin checks be completed once a year. Your health professional will discuss your results with you during your consultation, unless they determine that further consultation may be needed. A written report that includes strategies to reduce the risks based on your circumstances will be given to you. You can keep this report and take it to your GP for a follow-up and further assessment.

Why are skin checks important?

Research has shown that 95% of Melanoma cases are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from sunlight. About 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the time they are 70. The Cancer Council explain that the sooner a skin cancer is discovered, the higher your chances of successful treatment and avoiding surgery or death. On average, 1 Australian is diagnosed with Melanoma every 30 minutes, and it is estimated that 1 Australian dies from Melanoma every 6 hours. With regular skin checks, potential problems can be identified in advance, giving you a better chance to treat them. It is also an opportunity to seek advice from a professional who can suggest lifestyle changes to help prevent skin cancer development. 

Bringing skin checks to the workplace with BizHealth promotes a healthy work environment, with your employees’ safety at the forefront of our mission. With skin cancer as such a prevalent concern in Australia, considering your employees’ well-being has never been more crucial.

What have skin checks taught us?

A pivotal turning point in skin cancer research and skin safety campaigning began in 1981 with the Slip-Slop-Slap campaign by The Cancer Council. Since then, skin checks have become more prominent, though they still rely largely on individual initiative. As skin checks have become more frequent and widespread in Australia, preventative measures and causes of skin cancer have become clearer. In October 2024, the Australian Government dedicated over $10 million to develop a roadmap for a National Skin Cancer Screening Program, aiming to bring more consistency and regularity to skin checks. 

Skin checks have developed research and shown that:

• If detected early, which is possible through regular skin checks, 90% of Melanomas can be cured by surgery.
• Skin checks have increased awareness of skin cancer among the Australian public, enhancing their understanding of the causes, types, and preventive measures they can take.
• Not all skin cancers are the same; they look and develop differently in each individual. So, skin check consultations have become more individually focused, exploring the individual’s exposure and lifestyle. 
• Certain groups are more at risk for advanced and severe skin cancers, for example, older men.
• The more we conduct skin checks, risk factors and risk groups become more evident, allowing skin checks to become more targeted towards those audiences and refining research.
• Studies have shown that more than half of those diagnosed with skin cancer through skin checks would not have sought medical advice on their own accord.

Don’t be blindsided, BizHealth can help. Contact us via email or phone today. We can bring safety to your workplace.