Workplaces with increased radon concentration Registration

As a company, you must measure radon concentrations at workplaces on the ground floor or basement in the radon prevention areas or if your workplaces can be assigned to the work areas particularly exposed to radon (workplaces in underground mines, shafts and caves, including visitor mines and workplaces in water extraction, treatment and distribution plants). If the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre is exceeded despite protective measures, these workplaces must be registered with the competent regional councils and an exposure assessment carried out.

Radon is a natural decay product from the uranium-radium series, which is present everywhere on earth and contributes significantly to natural environmental radioactivity. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless and in turn breaks down into radioactive decay products. Radon gas escapes e.g. through cracks and crevices from the soil. The radon gas can penetrate buildings and accumulate indoors. People who are indoors breathe the radon gas and its radioactive decay products. . The inhalation of radon gas and its decay products increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

If you are responsible for workplaces in an indoor area, you must have the radon concentration measured within the periods specified therein in accordance with the Radiation Protection Act.

This applies to workplaces on the ground floor or basement in radon prevention areas. A corresponding measurement obligation also applies to workplaces in particularly radon-exposed fields such as mines, radon spas or waterworks.

By the end of 2020, the federal states had to identify radon prevention areas. These are areas where a high radon concentration is expected in a significant number of buildings. The competent Land authority has to publish the definition of the radon prevention areas. An initial examination has shown for Hesse that no district and no independent city have fulfilled the legal requirements for a radon prevention area. Hesse did not have to designate radon prevention areas.

You must carry out the measurement within 18 months after determining the radon prevention area and commencing occupational activity or in the case of particularly exposed workplaces – after commencing professional activity at the workplace.

If the radon concentration in the workplace is more than the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic meter, you must take measures to reduce the radon concentration. Within 30 months, the measures must have been taken and the results of a new measurement must be available. Exceptions to this obligation are possible under strict conditions.

If, despite reduction measures, the radon concentration at the workplace cannot be reduced below 300 becquerels per cubic metre, you must register the workplace with the competent regional council, estimate the expected exposure at the workplace within a period of six months and, if necessary, take further occupational radiation protection measures.

The application must be accompanied by:

• Information on the type of job and the number of jobs affected
• the results of the measurements
• Information on the measures taken to reduce radon-222 activity concentrations and the results of a control measurement after these measures have been carried out
• the other measures envisaged to reduce exposure

• Forms: Please check with your competent authority for any forms.
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• personal appearance required: no

• Your company's workplaces are located in radon prevention areas that have elevated radon levels or the type of workplace can lead to increased radon concentrations
• The measured radon concentration at a workplace exceeds the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre

If your company is located in a radon prevention area or has particularly exposed workplaces:

• Measure the radon concentration on your company's premises over a period of one year.
• Measuring instruments (dosimeters) can be obtained from a body recognised by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) (list on the BfS homepage).
• If the evaluation of the measurement shows a radon concentration exceeding the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic metre, measures shall be taken in the building to reduce the radon concentration.
• Possible measures include ventilating the workplace, closing openings in the areas that touch the ground and sealing between the basement and living spaces, such as cellar doors.
• After the remediation is complete, perform a new control measurement.
• If the radon concentration continues to exceed the reference value, register the affected workplaces with the competent state authority / regional council.
• Within six months of notification, the exposure of the workplaces concerned must be estimated. Where the estimate shows that exposure may exceed an effective dose of 6 millisieverts per year, this workplace shall be monitored for radiation protection and the exposure of workers determined.
• If an affected workplace is under radiation protection monitoring, you as an employer must register the employees in the radiation protection register of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection as well as with the responsible official measuring body.

From 31.12.2018, persons for whom entries are made in the BfS Radiation Protection Register will need a unique personal identification number: the so-called Radiation Protection Register Number (SSR number).

• If your company is located in a radon prevention area, you must start measurements to determine the radon concentration at workplaces in basements and ground floor so that the results are available within 18 months.
• If you have workplaces where increased radon concentrations are to be expected due to the nature of the field of work, you must also start in such a way that the results are available within 18 months.
• If the reference value is exceeded, you must take reduction measures and re-measure so that the results are available within 30 months.
• If the reference value is still exceeded, you must immediately register the workplace with the competent state authority and carry out a dose estimate within six months.

The competent authority may charge a fee for the notification.

For the use of the measuring instruments of a recognized body and the evaluation of the measurement costs arise.

Approximate information: Fee 50,00 EUR