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Radon at the workplace
- The Radiation Protection Act obliges employers to measure radon concentrations at certain workplaces – for example, if these workplaces are located in the basement or ground floor of a building in a radon precautionary area.
- If the averaged annual radon concentration measured at the workplace exceeds the reference level of 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, protective measures must be taken for the workers at these workplaces.
- A graded approach will help to minimise the costs for employers.
- Voluntary measurements enable employers to exclude possible elevated radon concentrations even outside designated radon precautionary areas and working fields.
- The BfS also recommends examining whether the radon concentration at the workplace can be reduced on a voluntary basis – even if it is below the reference level on an annual average.
The protection against radon and its health consequences at the workplace is regulated by the Radiation Protection Act and the associated Radiation Protection Ordinance. The aim of the regulations is to ensure that the radon concentration at workplaces is below the reference level of 300 Becquerels per cubic metre on an annual average to a broad extent.
For this purpose, a graded approach for measuring radon concentrations at the workplace and the resulting actions is implemented:
- Stage 1:
Measurement of radon concentrations at the workplace - Stage 2:
Measures to reduce radon concentrations in the workplace if the reference value is exceeded - Stage 3:
Reporting of the workplace and estimation of radiation exposure if the reference value is continually exceeded - Stage 4:
Requirements of occupational radiation protection take effect
Stage 1
Stage 1: Measurement of radon concentrations at the workplace
The Radiation Protection Act obliges employers to measure radon concentrations at workplaces if
- the workplaces are located in the basement or ground floor of a building located in a radon precautionary area,
- the workplaces are to be assigned to a radon work area (workplaces in radon spas or radon galleries, in installations for the production, treatment, and distribution of water, or in mines, visitor mines, shafts or caves),
- the competent authority orders a measurement. It can do so if there are indications that increased radon concentrations are present at the workplace.
“Employers” means parties responsible for a workplace as defined in the Radiation Protection Act. They are also responsible for the workplaces of third parties in their own premises.
Increased radon levels in buildings can also occur outside of radon precautionary areas. It can therefore be reasonable to measure radon levels at the workplace – even if there is no obligation to do so. Only a measurement provides information about the radon concentration – and in the best case provides certainty that there is no need to worry about radon at the workplace.
Deadlines
At the latest 18 months after
- the radon precautionary area is identified
- the workplace concerned is established
- the measurement was ordered by the competent authority
the results of the measurements prescribed by the Radiation Protection Act must be provided. The competent authority may extend the deadline by up to 6 months. The measurements must be carried out over a period of 12 months. This is because radon concentrations can fluctuate greatly over the course of the day and year. Only if the measurement prematurely predicts an increased radon level the measurement can be aborted earlier. In order to meet the deadlines, measurements should start as soon as possible after the radon precautionary area was designated, the workplace concerned was established, or the measurement was ordered.
Measurements by recognised providers
To ensure a uniform quality of radon measurements at the workplace at national level, the measurements must be carried out with measuring devices of providers that are recognised by BfS in accordance with Section 155 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance. This is a prerequisite for the later acceptance of the measurement results by the competent authority.
In the current overview of providers, employers can find all bodies recognised by BfS who provide and evaluate measuring devices for radon measurements and summarise the results in a report.
Results report
Employers must inform the workers concerned as well as inform works or staff councils about the measurement result and keep the results. Third parties working in the company must also be informed accordingly so that they, in turn, can inform their affected workers, works councils, or staff councils.
If the annual mean value of the radon concentration at the workplace is below the reference level of 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, employers have fulfilled their legal obligation by performing measurements, keeping the results report, and providing information on the results.
However, if the workplace is changed in a way that the radon concentration might be above the reference value employers have to repeat the measurement of the radon concentration.
Further steps
If the averaged annual radon concentration at the workplace is above 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, Stage 2 applies.
Stage 2
Stage 2: Measures to reduce radon concentrations in the workplace if the reference level is exceeded
Even if the annual averaged annual radon concentration at the workplace is below the reference level of 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, the BfS recommends examining whether voluntarily reducing the radon concentration is possible with reasonable effort.
Initiate, implement, and review measures
However, if the averaged annual radon concentration in the workplace exceeds 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, employers are obliged to take immediate action to reduce the radon concentration at the workplace. The same applies to voluntary measurements at indoor workplaces as it is a nationwide reference value.
The measures to reduce radon concentrations at affected workplaces must be implemented within 18 months of receiving the results. This is the only way to check the success of the measures taken within 30 months of the result of the first measurement by means of a new 12-month measurement (control measurement).
The control measurement must also be carried out with measuring devices from recognised providers. Employers are obliged to measure the radon concentration; they are also obliged to they are also obliged to inform workers and, if applicable, third parties about the results and to keep the report on the results of the measurement.
If measures are not feasible or are difficult to implement in time to meet the deadline for control measurement, the competent authority must be contacted. In exceptional cases, Stage 2 actions may be waived in agreement with the competent authority if there are special reasons for doing so (e.g. prevailing interests of occupational safety or health protection or the nature of the workplace). For example, a ventilation plan for an operating theatre would be contrary to the applicable hygiene regulations and the Infection Protection Act. The competent authority provides further information.
Further steps
If the radon concentration at the workplace cannot be reduced below 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, Stage 3 takes effect.
Stage 3
Stage 3: Registration of the workplace and estimation of radiation exposure if the reference level is continually exceeded
If the radon concentration at the workplace cannot be reduced below the reference level of 300 Becquerels per cubic metre, the workplace must be registered with the competent authority. The registration includes
- information on the type of workplace and the number of affected workers,
- the results of the measurements from Stage 1,
- information on the measures taken to reduce radon concentrations and the results of the control measurements from Stage 2,
- an outlook on which (additional) measures are planned to reduce the radiation exposure of the workers concerned by the inhalation of radon.
Within 6 months, employers must also estimate the expected exposure to radon (i.e. radon exposure) for the workers at this workplace. The result of the assessment has to be reported to the competent authority and kept for 5 years.
- If the estimate of the radon exposure shows that the expected effective dose at a workplace per calender year remains below 6 millisieverts, employers are obliged to minimise the exposure to radon at this workplace (taking all circumstances into account) and to review their assessment regularly. Measures to reduce exposure to radon can include restricting working hours in certain places or targeted ventilation.
Employers must inform the competent authority if the registered workplace is abandoned. The same applies if they prove through a new measurement (as in stage 1) that the radon concentration is now below the reference value due to changes at the workplace.
- If the estimate of the radon exposure shows that the effective dose may exceed a value of 6 millisieverts per calender year, Stage 4 applies.
Stage 4
Stage 4: Requirements of occupational radiation protection take effect
If the estimate of the expected radon exposure at a workplace shows that the effective dose per calender year may exceed a value of 6 millisievert, requirements of occupational radiation protection must be met.
In addition to individual measures to reduce the radon exposure, these include the keeping of a radiation passport when working in external operating sites or medical supervision with regular examinations. The competent authority may, among others, also arrange for the establishment of radiation protection areas at the workplace.
The radiation dose of the workers concerned must also be determined continually in order to monitor the extent to which these workers are exposed to ionising radiation at the workplace. The dose meters for this purpose are provided by a measuring body appointed by the competent authority.
Employers are also obliged to register the affected workers in the Radiation Protection Register of the BfS. The Radiation Protection Register ensures that the limit values for the permissible annual radiation exposure and the occupational lifetime dose of all workers recorded in the register are complied with.
If the registered workplace is demonstrably changed in a way to make it impossible for the effective dose per calender year to exceed a value of 6 millisievert, employers have to report this fact to the competent authority.
Measurements by recognized providers
In order to ensure a nationwide uniform quality of radon measurements at the workplace, the measurements must be carried out with measuring devices from providers who are recognized by BfS according to § 155 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance. This is a prerequisite for the measurement results to be accepted later by the responsible state authority.
In the current overview of providers, employers can find all bodies recognised by BfS who provide and evaluate measuring devices for radon measurements and summarise the results in a report.
The following providers are currently recognized by BfS in accordance with § 155 of the Radiation Protection Ordinance":
| Provider | Measuring instruments | Measuring procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Provider: A to C- | ||
ALTRAC Radon-Messtechnik, Prüflabor 09661 Striegistal OT Böhrigen | LD PDL RSX | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
|
08294 Lößnitz | LD PD RSX | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
|
08468 Heinsdorfergrund | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
Baubiologie Mittelrhein & Sachverständigen Büro GmbH & Co. KG 56598 Rheinbrohl | RTM 1688-2 | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
Baubiologie-Umweltmesstechnik Bio-Synergetics 42799 Leichlingen | RTM 1688-2 RadonScout | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
| LD Radtrak2 | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
Bergsicherung Schneeberg GmbH & Co. KG 08289 Schneeberg | EQF 3200 | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
| LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
|
91207 Lauf | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
BsS Bergsicherung Sachsen GmbH 08289 Schneeberg | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| Provider: D to F- | ||
|
97084 Würzburg | Tesla TSR | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
|
01277 Dresden | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| Eurofins Radon Testing Sweden AB SE-972 41 Luleå (Sweden) | Eurofins Alpha track Radon Detektor | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
|
26135 Oldenburg | LD Eurofins passives Radonexposimeter | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
|
95100 Selb | LD RSX Radtrak3 | passive, integrating with |
| Provider: G to J- | ||
GEODIENST Ingenieurbüro für Baugrund und Tiefbauüberwachung | RadonScout Pro P | direct reading, electronic, Lucas cell |
| RadonScout Home | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
GEOPRAX Bergtechnisches Ingenieurbüro Bernd Leißring und Nick Leißring GbR 09114 Chemnitz | AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber |
| LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
IAF - Radioökologie GmbH Dresden 01454 Radeberg | AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber |
| LD PD RSX | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
IBUS Ingenieurbüro für Umweltschutz 98574 Schmalkalden | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
IGU Institut für angewandte Isotopen- Gas- und Umweltuntersuchungen 82237 Wörthsee | AlphaGuard RadonEye RD200 | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber |
| EQF 3200 | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
INGEPA Inweltverbesserung und Gebäudepathologie GmbH 91207 Lauf | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| Provider: K to M- | ||
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT), Sicherheit und Umwelt, Radonlabor 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen | FKSD-KIT | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| LGA Institut für Umweltgeologie und Altlasten GmbH 90427 Nürnberg | AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chambe |
| LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
| Landesanstalt für Personendosimetrie und Strahlenschutzausbildung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LPS) 12555 Berlin | LD RSKS | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
Materialprüfungsamt Nordrhein-Westfalen 44287 Dortmund | AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber |
| Ortsdosimeter | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
Mirion Medical GmbH, Abt. Radon Messstelle 80687 München | Eurofins passives Radonexposimeter | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| Corentium Home | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
| AlphaGuard PQ2000 | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber | |
| Provider: N to P- | ||
Nuclear Control & Consulting GmbH 38114 Braunschweig | AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber |
| RadonScout | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
|
85354 Freising | Eurofins passives Radonexposimeter | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| RTM 1688-2 Radonscout Home | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
|
87561 Oberstdort / | RadonScout Plus | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
| Provider: Q to S- | ||
|
95666 Leonberg | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
|
SE-751 38 Uppsala (Schweden) | Radtrak2 Radtrak3 | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
| SPIRIT | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
|
89426 Wittislingen | RadonTec PRD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
Sachverständigenbüro Dr. Gerhard Binker 91207 Lauf | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
Sachverständigenbüro Dr. J. Kemski 53121 Bonn | AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber |
| RTM 1688-2 RadonScout Corentium PRO | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
| Radtrak2 Radtrak3 | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
Sachverständigenbüro Münzenberg 97346 Iphofen | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
|
69123 Heidelberg | RTM 1688-2 | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
Radtrak2 Radtrak3 | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
|
01159 Dresden | RadonScout Pro P | direct reading, electronic, Lucas cell |
| RadonScout Home | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector | |
| Provider: T to V- | ||
|
51105 Köln | RTM 1688-2 | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
| LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector | |
TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH 80686 München | Radtrak3 | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
Umweltanalytik und Baubiologie Dr. Thomas Haumann 45133 Essen | RadonScout Pro P | direct reading, electronic, Lucas cell |
|
08523 Plauen | LD | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
|
41460 Neuss | Radtrak2 Radtrak3 | passive, integrating with solid-state nuclear track detector |
VKTA - Strahlenschutz, Analytik & Entsorgung Rossendorf e. V. 01328 Dresden | Thoron Scout RadonScout Plus EQF 3200 | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
| AlphaGuard | direct reading, electronic, ionisation chamber | |
| Provider: W to Z- | ||
|
30625 Hannover | RadonScout Home | direct reading, electronic, semiconductor detector |
For more information on recognized providers who provide and evaluate measuring devices for radon measurements and summarize the results in a report, see the article "Recognition procedure for providers of radon measurements at workplaces".:
State of 2024.11.25
