Even Indoor Workers Get Meaningful UV Exposure
“I work indoors, so I'm not really at risk” is one of the more common assumptions we hear, and it doesn't hold up as well as it sounds.
Car windows don't block everything
Windscreens are made from laminated glass, which blocks the large majority of UVA radiation, around 98%, according to Cancer Council Australia. Side windows and sunroofs are usually a different type of glass, tempered rather than laminated, and offer far less protection. UVA transmission through tempered glass can run as high as 79%, meaning the arm resting on the window during a commute is getting real exposure, even with the window up.
It's cumulative, not occasional
None of this looks like sun exposure in the moment. It's the drive to work, the walk from the car park, lunch eaten outside, repeated most days for years. Cancer Council Australia specifically recommends that people who spend significant time in vehicles, which includes daily commuters as well as professional drivers, consider sun protection for this reason. The exposure adds up in exactly the same way sunburn does, just more quietly and without the immediate signal.
Why this changes who should get checked
An outdoor job has always been an obvious risk factor. A desk job with a daily commute is a much easier one to overlook, which is part of why it gets overlooked at the skin check stage too.
A Full Skin Check at SkinGP Woodend doesn't ask how much time you've spent outdoors, it's a proactive measure available to any adult. Our Accredited Skin Cancer Doctors use dermoscopy and FotoFinder total body photography to examine and document every part of your skin. No referral is required, and you can book directly via our website.
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