Businesses Alerted To Take Action Immediately To Check, Assess And Test To Prevent Radon Exposure

A worker inspecting for Radon emissions It's referred to as a human carcinogen, a radioactive gas which is responsible for around 1,100 deaths in the UK. This is exactly why firms must act to make themselves Radon aware and take the necessary steps to mitigate the associated risks.

For some employees, dependant of where they live, significant daily exposure may only occur at work. Radon can be found in buildings of any size, type or location and can only be detected when a specific and professional test is carried out. Following the campaign called Radon Awareness Week, Bureau Veritas is urging all businesses across the UK to dedicate five minutes to ensuring they have the relevant risk assessments in place to ensure they are doing their utmost to protect employees.

The overarching theme for this year’s Radon Awareness Week, was ‘Give Me 5.’ The campaign will highlight 5 important facts about radon for 5 sectors, over 5 days, enforcing the important message that simply taking five minutes to make yourself radon aware could be the most important decision you make this year.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of employees and others who have access to their work environment. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also requires the assessment of health and safety risks and this should include Radon in above ground and below ground workplaces.

Ian Mitchell, Principal Consultant at Bureaus Veritas, comments: “Radon is a naturally occurring gas, odourless, colourless which finds its way to the to the surface, linked to granite – but not always, as a result of heating and building architecture many buildings are at risk from developing high localised radon levels leading to high levels of employee exposure. Generally, radon levels are low across the UK, however in some parts of the country business premises may have levels of radon above the recognised safe limit or action level.

“Under UK regulations all employers must review the potential radon hazard in their premises and as such, should undertake a Radon risk assessment and take necessary measures to reduce Radon levels for employees. This should be carried out in relation to all below ground workplaces in the UK and all workplaces located in areas of high levels of Radon.”

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If above the action level of 300Bq/M3, precautions to limit exposure need to be taken. Under the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17), UK businesses must control exposure in the workplace.

Ian continues: “Undertaking the risk assessment can sometimes present challenges for employers, especially for banks and other financial buildings because of their unique architecture and reliance on underground stores, but Radon issues are serious and must not be ignored.

“Businesses that are at risk have a responsibility to protect employees – maintain compliance to the many relevant workplace regulations. Bureau Veritas is an expert in Radon assessment and management and can support companies to ensure they have the right preventative and protective measure in place to ensure Radon levels do not increase.

“The good news is that it’s simple and cost-effective to measure Radon levels and usually relatively straightforward to manage and mitigate the risks. The message this Radon Awareness Week is simple – take five minutes to bring Radon to the top of your agenda and you could save lives, act today.”