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Radon measurement
Radtrak2® – A reliable long-term measurement of radon which provides the correct average annual value
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Six steps to a radon-free environment in the workplace
Since 1974 the Health and Safety at Work Act (HS@WA) has required employers to take responsibility for the safety of employees and the public in the UK. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Act were implemented to reinforce the HS@WA. The legislation requires risk assessments to identify significant risks in the workplace (including employees working from home) and carry out actions to minimise those risks.
Radon is a potentially significant risk to health in numerous areas across the UK and in all below ground work spaces. The Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17) requires radiation risk assessments to be carried out
Radonova has designed the following step-by-step guide to correctly perform Radon screening, to be legislative compliant and ultimately ensure a healthy working environment.
Long-term radon measurement
The radon monitoring process is very simple and inexpensive. The measurement consists in carrying out a survey over 3-month period (preferably in the winter period), in accordance with the Public Health England (PHE) validation scheme. Radon monitoring should avoid times when the building will be unoccupied for extended periods, e.g. school summer holidays.
It is also preferable to use an accredited as well as validated laboratory; such as Radonova.
If the result of the measurement indicates a radon concentration less than the action level for workplaces, 300 Bq m-3, no immediate action is necessary. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommend subsequent measurement to be completed after 10 years or after structural changes.
Occupational Action Level
If the result of the measurement is at or greater than 300 Bq m-3 the IRR17 are applicable. These regulations place responsibilities upon the employer that include taking action to reduce radon levels or manage exposures.
You must also notify HSE of these results if the result is greater than 1000 Bq/m3. You can perform a radon measurement during working hours, to check the actual radon exposure of your employees before implementing the remedial actions. Indeed, radon concentrations vary during the day.
Therefore, it is possible that the annual average, calculated in step 1, does not reflect the actual radon exposure during working hours. Contact us to define the method that will be most suitable for you.
Inspection and Measurements
If results greater than 300 Bq m-3 (IRR17 are applicable) are measured, it means that radon exposure can be a hazard for your employees. It is then necessary to set up actions to reduce radon levels.
Those actions can be simple or require the help of a radon consultant. In cases where the results are greater than 1000 Bq m-3, it will be necessary to find the right solutions to effectively reduce radon levels as soon as possible and inform the HSE.
Follow-up Action
Once remediation measures are in place, it shall be necessary to monitor their effectiveness.
Radonova advises to perform a long-term measurement under similar conditions to those in step 1, following the annual maintenance.
Personal Dosimetry
It may be physically impossible or unrealistic to lower radon levels below the action level. In such cases, it is necessary to evaluate the dose due to radon exposure employees may receive. Personal dosimetry will help to the employer to make decisions regarding maximum time an employee can stay in the area with high radon levels. A Radiation Protection Advisor shall be appointed to support dose minimization and measurement.
The health risk of radon is well established. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It is essential to measure radon wherever you are and to repeat, even the measurements, at least every 10 years and after each structural modification in the building.
The general principle to apply when working with reducing radon levels should be the ALARP principle (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) reducing radon to as low as possible has the greatest potential to minimize risk. But “practical” includes an awareness of costs.
It is also best practice to offer the workforce the option to measure at home. This is a requirement of the employer if they allow the employee to work from home. Mitigation at home is the responsibility of the home owner.
Use our radon detectors to measure radon in your workplace, and take advantage of our efficient web app
Measuring radon in the workplace is easy. All you need to do is order radon detectors from us, put them out, record the data on My Pages, retrieve the detectors, and send them into our lab. Your report will then be sent by e-mail or retrieved online within a week.
With us you get:
- Free access to My Pages to assist in the location of your detectors and data retrieval
- Delivery of radon detectors within one to two days
- Analysis in less than seven days
- The highest level of measurement quality and accuracy, as proven in international tests
- Measurement accredited according to ISO 17025 and validated by Public Health England
The biggest cost of radon measurement is usually the time it takes to deploy the detectors, record the data, and then retrieve them again. This means it is important to ensure efficiency and safety at all stages of the process. In addition, high-quality radon measurement offers lower costs and provides a better starting point should a radon survey or intervention be needed.
By using our radon detectors and My Pages web app, you get the most accurate measurement as well as an incredibly efficient measurement procedure.
How many radon detectors do I need to measure radon in my workplace?
For radon measurement in the workplace, Radonova recommends following International Radon Measurement Association (IRMA) guidelines. This means you will also comply with the United Kingdom’s method description. The advantage of IRMA’s guidelines is that their recommended measurement procedure helps to save time. It’s important not to have to return to conduct additional measurements due to having deployed too few detectors. You can work out the number of detectors you need using IRMA’s guidelines.
- The following locations must be included when measuring radon:
- Rooms and locations regularly used for more than four hours per day
- All underground/basement locations or other locations used by anyone for more than one hour per week where there is a risk of radon leakage
- Any relevant locations/rooms at basement and ground floor levels In larger spaces, deploy at least one detector per 150 m2
- Deploy at least two detectors on upper floors and at least one detector per 250 m2
Do you need assistance in calculating how many radon detectors are required to measure radon on your workplace?
Radon in UK
Radon is a radioactive gas, we can’t see, smell or taste it: you need special equipment to detect it. It comes from the rocks and soil found everywhere in the UK. The radon level in the air we breathe outside is very low but can be higher inside buildings. Employers are required, as far as reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of employees and other people who have access to their work environment. This includes a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, and taking appropriate action where necessary. Work environments vary greatly in size and nature, but excessive radon levels can occur in almost any type of workplace. Employers are required by law to assess any risks to their staff while at work.
Employers must comply with the UK Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the UK Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This legislation requires employers as far as reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of employees and other people who have access to their work environment, for instance, members of the public in shops and schools.
Radon should be identified as a hazard if you have a workplace with one or more of the following circumstances:
- Your building is in a radon Affected Area
- Your building has a basement area that is occupied for more than 50 hours each year
- You operate a mine, cave, or are responsible for any underground environments
- Your business involves a suspected radon source such as ground water (e.g. water treatment works) or stored geological samples.
Should your workplace come into any of the above categories it should be tested.
Regulations apply if the radon level exceeds 300 Bq/m³ in any area. The combination of the radon level, occupancy time and workplace type will determine what action is required. The regulations that apply where 300 Bq/m³ is being exceeded are the UK Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017. The legislation requires employers to act if radon levels exceed the workplace threshold. Your radon measurement report will indicate whether you are above the 300 Bq/m³ threshold and need advice from our experienced Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) as to remedial steps to be taken to reduce the radon level.
Where radon levels are satisfactory and below the 300 Bq/m³ threshold, the employer should simply keep a record of the results and review them by retesting after around ten years or if there are significant changes to the workplace structure or use.
