Radon in the workplace

Work environments vary greatly in size and nature, but excessive levels of radon gas can occur in almost any type of workplace. The amount of radon that collects in a building depends on its location, structure and how it is used. In workplaces such as offices, where hazards are normally low, radon can be the largest occupational health risk. Furthermore, employees who live nearby may also be exposed to a high radon level while at home. Wider awareness of radon can, therefore, benefit your staff. Radon comes from the ground and underground areas are more likely to have high radon levels. Therefore, any frequently occupied basements should also be tested, regardless of whether or not the site is in an Affected Area. Specialist advice should be sought for wholly underground workplaces such as mines, tunnels and caves and if there are internal sources of radon such as geological samples.

Once inside a building, the level of radon depends on the amount of ventilation and the nature of the work. Radon levels can vary greatly within a large building and individual risk depends on the radon level in the different areas where staff spend most of their time. It is important to measure the radon levels in areas that represent the different working environments in the building.

A simple radon detector can be ordered through this website. Testing is generally undertaken in ground floor rooms that are used routinely. Other rooms, on higher floors or those in which people spend little time, do not generally need to be tested. If you are not sure how many detectors you need, contact us.

If a radon level in any part of a workplace exceeds 300 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq m-3), the Regulations covering ionising radiations apply. The employer is then obliged to take action.

Radon levels can vary over time. This is usually because of changes to the construction of the building or alterations to heating and ventilation which can be caused by a change in use. For this reason, radon should remain in your routine reviews of risk assessments. Consider any changes and assess whether or not the test needs to be repeated. If a radon reduction system has been installed to reduce high levels, those systems may also fail over time and radon levels should be checked annually.