Lucion Services has expanded its range of workplace and environmental safety services with the introduction of radon gas risk management to help employers meet their safety responsibilities.
Under the new service, Lucion will provide an initial risk assessment to identify those areas where radon measurement devices should be installed and develop a schedule to establish the priorities and programming for testing.
In situ monitoring will be carried out in designated locations over a three month period to allow for variations in levels of any gas detected. After this period the test results will be assessed and any necessary remediation works determined, depending on the gas levels found.
Radon is a naturally occurring colourless, odourless, radioactive gas formed by the decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. It is present in all parts of the UK, although concentrations vary depending on the local geology.
To protect employees against this risk, the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 apply to workplaces where radon is present. Employers are legally required to assess the risks to the health and safety of their employees and in the case of radon gas are required to take appropriate action to restrict exposure when its presence is above defined levels.
The average radon gas level in UK homes is 20 Bq m-3. For levels below 100 Bq m-3, the individual risk remains relatively low and is not a cause for concern. However, the risk grows as the radon level increases and at levels above 400 Bq m-3 employers are required to take remedial action.
Increased exposure to radon increases the risk of lung cancer and, as the single largest source of radiation exposure to the UK population, it is responsible for an estimated 1,100 lung cancer deaths each year.
Since introducing the new service, Lucion has already secured work to assist local authorities with radon gas monitoring in a range of council buildings and assets, including local schools.
For further details visit www.lucionservices.com
