Radon inspections
Radon is a natural, invisible gas that can build up inside buildings. It comes from the ground. Because you can’t see or smell it, special tests are needed. WCS Water & Air part of WCS Group, utilises dedicated in-house specialist consultants to help check for radon to make sure your workplaces and buildings are safe places to be.
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What is radon and why is it a concern?
Radon comes from the earth and can get into buildings, especially basements. If people breathe in too much radon for a long time, it can be harmful. That’s why it’s important to check for it, not only to ensure your workplace is compliant but to prevent deadly health complications. The HSE provides guidelines around radon safety in the workplace and we are here to work with you to meet those requirements.
Why are radon inspections crucial?
Under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17), businesses have a legal responsibility to evaluate the potential risk of radon exposure within their work environments. Specifically, if a workplace is situated in a designated radon-affected area, or if there is a credible basis to suspect elevated radon concentrations, a formal radon risk assessment must be conducted. Following this assessment, appropriate measures must be implemented to mitigate any identified risks and reduce exposure to radon.
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 require the assessment of health and safety risks and this should include radon.
Identifying hidden risks
Because you cannot see or smell radon it doesn’t mean it isn’t there impacting our health. Radon can seep into homes and buildings through cracks in foundations, floors, and walls.
Detecting radon can be a life saver or at the very least provide peace of mind that your building isn’t negatively impacting the welfare of those who inhabit it.
Protecting health
Regular radon inspections can help mitigate serious health risks for those who work or regular visit your affected environment including lung cancer which is identified as the biggest risk. Breathing in radioactive radon gas can damage the cells in your lungs. Over time, this damage can lead to lung cancer. This becomes even more dangerous for those who smoke, with the combination of smoking a radon rapidly increasing the overall risk to health.
Compliance
In the United Kingdom, the government’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has established a specific limit for how much radon gas is allowed in workplaces. This limit is called the “action level.” The action level is 300 Becquerels per cubic meter (300 Bq/m³). This measurement tells us the amount of radon gas present in the air. If tests show that the radon gas in a workplace is at or exceeds 300 Bq/m³, the law requires that steps be taken to reduce the risk. This might involve remedial work including:
- Sealing cracks or openings in the building’s foundation.
- Installing ventilation systems to remove the radon gas.
Our radon inspection process
As part of our radon inspection process we will provide a survey and risk assessment to identify potential radon hotspots with all occupied basements, those used for more than 50 hours per year, being top of the list. We utilise specialist testing equipment to provide accurate monitoring readings. Our expert team will then interpret these readings into a detailed report aligned with compliance guidance providing clear recommendations for reducing radon levels in affected areas.
Why choose WCS Group for radon inspections?
Our dedicated team have years of proven expertise and experience in dealing with air quality and environmental safety including radon. We have helped a number of businesses with their management of radon and we are ready to help support your business with a tailored solution to provide you with precise and reliable results.