Rank: Forum user 
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Hello fellow professionals, I have recently taken up a post which involves managing H&S in an underground storage facility that used to be a mine and still falls under the mining regs. I have recieved a letter from Public Health England saying that Radon levels are high. Are there any members on this forum who have experience of undertaking a risk assessment for this type of scenario and what potential control measures might be involved please? Or at least help point me in the right direction to find useful information?
Thanks, Phill.
Edited by user 29 July 2021 08:34:26(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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HSE pages always good for a start.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/ionising/radon.htm
its been a while since i did any Radon monitoring - and never in a mine. Radon monitors are a little different to other gases - they have to be in place for a period of time - off the top of my head its 3 months.
https://www.ukradon.org/ give advice on how many are needed etc.
If you find exposure levels are high i think the only method avilabale to you would be "pumping" the radon out. Fortunatly i have never had to resort to that in my assessments - have been able to manage it with ventalation or limiting time spent in the area,
Good luck.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi You will need to engage the services of an RPA (Radiological Protection Adviser) who will be able to measure the radon levels and advise of controls and check that they are working.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel  Hi You will need to engage the services of an RPA (Radiological Protection Adviser) who will be able to measure the radon levels and advise of controls and check that they are working.
Are you sure? this never used to apply to Radon gas - but as i say its been a while since i was involved.
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Rank: Super forum user
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taken from the ionising radiation guidance.
Work activities with naturally occurring radioactive materials 23 Judging what is considered to be a radioactive substance within the meaning of the Regulations can be particularly difficult for materials containing naturally occurring radionuclides. Processing of such materials can concentrate certain radionuclides and lead to the potential for significant exposure at particular stages of a process. The two main exposure routes are from direct exposure to external radiation from bulk quantities (often held in store) and from inhalation during work in dusty operations.
As i say i only ever delt with RADON in bulding so we were not "working" with radiation just potentialy exposed to it - we delt with risk under management regs. - mining may be different.
I have found some guidance that suggests the RPA is needed if you exceed the 300 bq m3 limit.
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Rank: Super forum user
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What the original poster needs in a practical sense as opposed to a legal sense is someone who knows more about radon than they do (or I) do and who can advise on what they need to do. The guidance supporting regulation 14 (Appointment of RPA) makes it clear that if the activities are exempt, they don’t need an RPA, but the guidance suggests that a suitably qualified RPA (ie who knows about abut radon in mines) might be helpful since they don’t if they are exempt or not until someone has done the assessment! The guidance says: “Involving the RPA in the radiation risk assessment (required by regulation 8, or in reviewing an assessment, required by regulation 3 of the Management Regulations) could be very useful as it will identify at the outset where the risks arise and what precautions and procedures are going to be necessary.”
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Rank: Forum user
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Thank you all for your prompt responses, much appreciated. I think my first port of call is to find a suitably experienced Radon Protection Advisor to discuss my concern and hope they can guide me to catergories to research for a suitable and sufficient RA. as we all know, if like myself a person is new to the subject matter then it is unlikely that they will have the skills and knowledge to competently produce one. Kind regards, Phil
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Ovo, Have you tried asking the question to the ONR? you may be able to get some free advice before having to pay for an RPA. I am presumming there is noone at your work who have completed their RPS course? Sammy
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Public Health England would be my first port of call. There must be a name on the letter so why not contact that person and ask how they know it is high, how they measured the Radon and can you have a copy of their test report, (please). You may then have a 'friend' in PHE. Good luck.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Also an opportunity to verify the letter actually originated from "PHE" and why they have sent it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Also an opportunity to verify the letter actually originated from "PHE" and why they have sent it.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thank you all for your responses, much appreciated. I can confirm that the letter from PHE was accompanied by a report showing readings from 10 locations at the workplace taken over a 3 month period and i have indeed contacted both the report writer and the HSE for advice.
My next step is to contact an RPA and get the ball rolling and to research what hazards would constitute the basis of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Can anyone recommend a good RPA?
Cheers, Phill
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Rank: Super forum user 
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