Workplaces in underground work areas, show mines and show caves Legal obligation to protect against radon in underground work areas, show mines and show caves
Underground work areas in mines, shafts, galleries, tunnels and caves, show mines and show caves are among the workplaces where increased radon concentrations are to be expected due to special exposure conditions. In order to reduce the health risk posed by radon in these workplaces, employers of underground work areas and operators of show mines and caves are obliged to measure the radon concentration. If the radon concentration is above the reference value of 300 Bq/m³, protective measures must be taken for employees.
Obligations for employers
Your company falls within the scope of the Radiation Protection Act 2020 and the Radon Protection Ordinance if workplaces are located in the following areas or facilities:
- Underground work areas in mines, shafts, galleries, tunnels and caves
- Show mines and show caves
If this applies, you are obliged to carry out a radon measurement at the affected workplaces. The aim of the radon measurement is to check whether the reference value for the radon concentration at the workplace is complied with in all relevant work areas.
Excluded from the measurement obligation of the Radiation Protection Act 2020 are
- Underground working areas in mines, shafts, galleries, tunnels and caves if ventilation is operated in accordance with the state of the art or is required by law. In the case of artificial ventilation, no further criteria apply. In the case of natural ventilation, the exception only applies if no employee is present in underground work areas for more than 30 hours per year.
- Show mines and show caves, if no employee spends more than 30 hours per year at these workplaces.
If at least one exemption requirement applies to all workplaces, you must notify your competent radiation protection authority in writing. The competent authority is the provincial governor, represented by the respective provincial government office. This eliminates any further obligations.
Determination of the radon concentration
According to the Radon Protection Ordinance, radon measurements must be carried out by an authorized monitoring body for a period of at least two months, entirely in the period between 15 April and 15 October. Here you will find a list of authorized monitoring bodies in accordance with the Radiation Protection Act 2020. The authorized monitoring body commissioned by you will inform you about what needs to be observed when measuring radon.
The aim of this measurement is to check whether the reference value for the radon concentration in the workplace is complied with in all relevant work areas. The reference value for the radon concentration in the workplace is 300 becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m³).
Measurement result below the reference value
If the radon concentration determined at all workplaces is below the reference value of 300 Bq/m³, no further measures are necessary.
Result above the reference value: You can find more information here.