Radon services for employers

Transcription

1 Protecting and improving the nation s health Radiation Protection Services Radon services for employers

2 Our mission as a part of PHE s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) is to provide the highest quality radon advice and services. High quality research is undertaken by experts in their field who work collaboratively to improve knowledge and protection against harm from radon gas. We achieve this by providing significant investment in our scientists and pride ourselves that this is repaid in the quality of service we deliver to industry and the public alike.

3 The UK s primary radon services provider Public Health England (PHE) is an executive agency of the Department of Health. As the UK s primary experts on radiation protection, PHE represents a significant nationwide resource for the public, industry, education, research and medicine and is the primary resource for advice about radon in the UK. What is radon? Radon is a natural radioactive gas, you can t see, smell or taste it. It is formed by the radioactive decay of the small amounts of uranium that occur naturally in all rocks and soils. What is the risk to health from radon? Radon produces radioactive particles in the air that we breathe; the particles are trapped in our airways and emit radiation that damages the inside of our lungs. This damage increases the risk of lung cancer. What is the employer s responsibility? Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a responsibility to, as far as reasonably practicable, ensure the health and safety of employees and other people who have access to their work environment. Radon should be identified as a hazard (as part of your suitable and suffcient risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999) if you have a workplace where one or more of the following circumstances apply: The building is in a radon Affected Area There is a basement area that is occupied on average for more than 50 hours each year It is a mine, cave, or other underground environment It has a suspected radon source such as ground water (e.g. treatment works) or geological samples.

4 How PHE helps employers PHE has decades of experience and expertise in delivering radon programmes for employers. Our measurement service is underpinned by our scientific research. We provide information on the risk of harm from radon. We advise you how to check your property portfolio, what to do when action needs to be taken, and work with you to provide the best and most effective service. Please contact us or visit the ukradon.org website for more information. Finding out about your properties PHE will determine if any of your properties are in a radon Affected Area by undertaking an indicative postcode search. All an employer needs to do is provide the postcodes for addresses in their property portfolio. PHE will analyse and advise on the risk for each postcode. Fast, effcient services for properties in radon Affected Areas If an indicative postcode search shows any of the properties are located within a radon Affected Area, you are advised which properties need to be tested. PHE provide any further advice needed to ensure testing is completed quickly, easily and effciently. How a PHE radon testing programme works We tailor our measurement service to your needs. For example, we can schedule the testing programme to take place over multiple financial years. Our testing programme includes: Dispatch of the measurement packs to your choice of recipient. This may be direct to the measurement address, a central organiser or a nominated third party Prepaid outgoing and return postage Phased delivery schedules in accordance with your requirements Full placement instructions and advice on how to get the most from your measurement Specially calibrated monitors for use in damp/ wet locations (if required) Bespoke measurements for testing underground locations such as caves or mines

5 Project progress summaries Full analysis and reporting within 4 weeks of return Result reports including advice on the application of the Ionising Radiation Regulations, next steps, employer information and HSE notification forms Employee access to our dedicated radon helpdesk and expert scientists Employee access to our website providing information, advice and downloadable resources Reduced rate for government funded organisations please contact us to check your eligibility In summary Radon is a natural radioactive gas Exposure can increase risk of lung cancer Radon is covered in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 PHE can assess your property portfolio PHE can provide a testing programme and advice For more information contact us on: Telephone +44 (0) radon@phe.gov.uk Or visit the PHE radon website at:

6 Radiation protection research and development leadership PHE combines public health and scientific knowledge, research and emergency planning within one organisation and works at international, national, regional and local levels. In addition to being the primary resource for advice about radon in the UK, we can also offer significant radiation protection research and development experience including: environmental surveillance and assessments radioactive waste adviser services emergency planning and response post-accident recovery solid waste management decommissioning and remediation advice including site clearance exposure studies measurement and desk-based evaluations Further services Through our strategically located facilities we provide further radiation protection, advice and services including: Radiation Protection Adviser services training for radiological protection professionals radiation safety workplace training dental X-ray protection services instrument testing services non-ionising radiation services laser protection adviser services radiochemistry services veterinary practice radiation protection services Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser services dose calculation service (radiopharmaceuticals) retrospective dosimetry service IMBA Professional Plus Internal dosimetry software PC-CREAM 08 - radiological impact assessment application

7 For more information please visit:

8 For more information about UKradon services please contact: Radon Group CRCE Chilton Oxon OX11 0RQ Telephone +44 (0) Crown Copyright 2017 MA247 Images used in this document may be subject to third party copyright