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Radon@work - Study: Radon at the workplace

  • In order to obtain a Germany-wide overview of the average concentration of radon in workplaces, the radon concentration in roundabout 2,000 workplaces is to be measured as part of a current study by the BfS.
  • Employers can register directly at the BfS in order to participate in the study free of charge.

Radon

The radioactive gas radon is formed in varying quantities in the soil everywhere in Germany.

If radon-containing soil air from the ground enters buildings, radon can accumulate indoors – also in workplaces.

Breathing increased amounts of radon over a longer period of time increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

As part of a current study by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), the radon concentration in roundabout 2,000 workplaces in various economic sectors and geographic regions will be recorded. Employers who are not legally obliged to measure radon and who must comply with workplaces in basements or ground floors can participate.

The study is meant to support further scientific assessment of the radon situation at workplaces throughout Germany.

Study to improve data on radon at workplaces

There is a legal obligation to measure the radon concentration for

The BfS receives the results of mandatory measurements in radon working areas and radon precautionary areas in anonymised form for research purposes and thus gaines further knowledge for protection against radon.

Research project concerning radon at the workplaces: Study "Radon@work" "Radon at the workplaces" research projectA study by the BfS is supposed to record the radon concentration at various workplaces.

However, the BfS has only few data on radon concentrations for workplaces outside radon precautionary areas and radon working fields. The current nationwide study aims to change that. The radon concentrations in roundabout 2,000 such workplaces shall be measured and recorded together with characteristic properties of the measurement place like the age of the building and ventilation.

The BfS aims to use the investigations in order to obtain a Germany-wide overview of the average concentration of radon at various workplaces.

Participation

For employers, participation in the study is voluntary and free of charge. With their participation, they will be making a valuable contribution to research on the radon situation in workplaces in Germany and thus support science and research in Germany. They will also be fulfilling their duty of care for their employees.

Requirements

Requirements for participation

A prerequisite for participation is that the participating workplaces

  • must be located outside a radon precautionary area
  • cannot be assigned to a radon field of work (i.e. workplaces in radon spas or radon galleries, in water extraction, treatment and distribution plants or in mines, visitor mines, shafts or caves)
  • must be located in the basement or ground floor of a building.

In order to achieve the highest possible informational value of the measurement data, the economic sectors and geographic regions of the workplaces investigated should be as representative as possible, and the radon measuring devices should be set up at workplaces typical for the respective industry.

Participation also requires the consent of the person responsible for the workplace; this is usually the employer or workplace manager.

More information

Radon@work: Information concerning the study (in German only) (PDF, 197 KB, Accessible)

Registration

Register to participate in the study

Woman with stationary Quality assurance

Employers can register to participate in the study and voluntarily determine the radon concentration in a couple of their workplaces free of charge.

For registration you have to specify contact data as well as information on the economic sector and the geographic region in an online survey. If the requirements for participation are met the BfS will gather further general information on the workplace, the measurement site, the building (like year of construction or basement) and its use in order to allow a scientific evaluation of the measurement results.

Afterwards, the radon measurements will begin. The BfS provides up to two detectors per geographic region and economic sector.

Procedure

Procedure of the measurements

5 Phases

Participating employers will receive free radon measuring devices by post in order to determine the radon concentration at a couple of workplaces in the basement and/or ground floor.

Passive radon detectors will be used. These are small plastic containers that require no electricity and emit neither light nor noise. They are simply placed in the workplace.

After one year, the participants will return the measuring devices. A few weeks later, the participants will receive an evaluation of the results for their workplace from the BfS.

More information

Radon@work: Instructions for using the measuring devices (in German only) (PDF, 360 KB, Accessible)

Data protection

Information concerning data protection

Stacked folders and books

Because personal data are processed in the online questionnaires in compliance with all relevant data protection regulations, study participants must consent to the data processing in accordance with the GDPR.

The BfS will use the measurementresults together with the general information collected exclusively within the framework of the study and will not pass them on to third parties, including other authorities. After completion of the study, all personal references like the contact information of the participants will be deleted.

Within the study, contact with the BfS will be exclusively online, by post, or by telephone; personal on-site visits will not take place.

The BfS will answer questions related to the study by email via survey-radon@bfs.de

Registration

Register now for participation: Study "Radon@work"

You can register for participation online.

By clicking on the registration link you agree to the processing of your data according to the data protection declaration.

Radon@work: Register now

Measurement results and measures

In Germany, a reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre of indoor air applies to radon both in common rooms and in workplaces. In radon precautionary areas, this reference value is exceeded more frequently than average; outside radon precautionary areas, it is exceeded less frequently. Nevertheless, elevated radon levels in buildings can also occur in workplaces investigated outside radon precautionary areas. The aim of the current study is to investigate to what extent this can happen.

The free quality-assured radon measurement offered as part of the study can provide workers and workplace managers with certainty that exposure to radon in the workplace is not an issue. In fact, only a measurement can provide real certainty.

If, contrary to expectations, the measurement shows that the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre in indoor air has been exceeded, employers are obliged to take protective and remedial measures as listed in Section 128 of Radiation Protection Act. One simple measure to reduce slightly elevated radon concentrations is regular ventilation.

The BfS will answer questions related to the study by email via survey-radon@bfs.de

Information sheets on registration / participation / implementation

More information

State of 2023.05.31

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