In July 2023, a school in Somerset was fined £50,000 for exposing its pupils, staff and other building users to up to 14 times the legal limit of radon. Although the school had been aware of its radon issue since 2007, the court found that the school had failed to carry out adequate monitoring or maintain control of measures effectively between 2010 and 2018. This case serves a cautionary tale of the often-overlooked danger of radon gas in our workplaces and the very real legal obligations of all employers to ensure a safe working environment.
Radon is a radioactive gas caused by the natural decay of tiny amounts of uranium found in the rocks and soil in the ground beneath us. While radon gas occurs naturally, it can also enter buildings unnoticed and accumulate in high concentrations. Because radon is invisible, odourless and tasteless, the only way to detect it is through specialised testing.
High concentrations of radon are a health hazard, and they can occur in buildings of any age, size, location or use. In fact, long-term exposure to high radon levels has been found to increase the risk of lung cancer, with Cancer Reasearch UK estimating that 1 in 20 cases of lung cancer are linked to radon exposure. So, as you would monitor potential exposure to asbestos or regularly test fire alarms, you should also test for radon.
At PropertECO, we’re here to let you know exactly what you need to do as an employer when it comes to testing for radon. Thankfully, the solution is simple. All you need to do is follow the rules of: Assess, Measure, Act.
1. Assess: Identifying the Radon Risk in Your Workplace
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), employers have a legal duty to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees and others in the work environment. This includes evaluating risks like radon exposure by conducting a sufficient and suitable risk assessment. In the first instance, you need to assess the likelihood of radon being an issue in your workplace.
You must test for radon if:
- Your workplace is in a radon-affected area (as identified by the UK Health Security Agency’s radon affected area map).
- Your workplace has a basement that is used for more than 50 hours per year.
- The workplace includes mines, caves or other underground environments.
- There is already a suspected radon source within the area, such as geological samples or groundwater.
As seen with the school in Somerset, ignoring these risks can have serious consequences for both the health of your employees and the legal standing of your business.
2. Measure: Testing for Radon
If you have identified that there is a reasonable likelihood that the workplace may be affected by high levels of radon, the only way to measure the risk is to carry out radon testing. Radon levels can vary significantly even between properties that are close together. Testing is essential to get accurate readings for your site and to detect where the problem lies. There are several ways to go about this:
- Ordering a radon test kit online: At PropertECO, we have an online radon shop where you can order a 10 day or a 3-month test kit. To accurately measure your workplace’s radon levels to produce a risk assessment, it is important that you test for a period of at least 3 months. Our kits come with easy-to-understand instructions of radon test kit placement and best practices.
- Consulting a radon specialist: If working with a large property, like a school, it is recommended that you contact a radon specialist before ordering and placing tests. Tests must be placed strategically in order to gain enough readings, and in suitable locations, to be confident in your risk assessment. PropertECO can review building floorplans and advise on locations, and even come to site to place and collect the detectors if preferred.
3. Act: Mitigation
If testing reveals high radon levels, average annual levels of 300 Bq/m3 or above, employers are required to take immediate action to reduce exposure. The UKHSA advises that mitigation efforts aim to lower radon levels to the target level of 100 Bq/m3 or below.
The Steps You Can Take
- Restrict access: If radon levels are dangerously high, consider temporarily restricting access to affected areas until mitigation measures are in place.
- Install a radon mitigation system: There are two main remediation techniques available for lowering your radon levels: installing a radon sump or introducing positive pressure to the air within your property. Our highly trained team are here to help determine which method is best suited to your property.
Our specialist team are on hand to offer advice on testing and mitigation as and when you need it. Click here to get in touch today.
